The 23-years-old trekker R Babu was successfully rescued by the army and NDRF team on Wednesday. After 45 hours, Army officials airlifted and rescued him from a cliff in Kerala’s Palakkad district.
After being taken to the hilltop, Babu was given food and water by the army officials. Rescuers said they came across three bears while trekking to the cleft to bring down Babu to safety. Babu suffered an injury when he fell into an opening of the hill while descending. He was climbing the mountain with his two friends. His friends descended but Babu fell into an opening on the hill when he was trying to descend.
His friends tried to make him climb the cliff by using ropes, wooden sticks, logs, but Babu was unable. At last, his friends went down and informed the local residents and the nearest police station.
Army officials tried to rescue Babu on Tuesday. Drones were sent to locate his position. Navy-choppers came at the spot and tried to do several sorties but failed to evacuate him from the cliff.
Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan stepped in and talked to army officials and the NDRF team. He wrote on Twitter, “Efforts are in full swing to rescue the youth trapped in #Malampuzha Cherat hill. There are currently two units of the @adgpi at the scene. Army members were able to talk to him. The rescue operation will be intensified today. @IAF_MCC helicopter is ready to be deployed.”
“Bharat Mata ki Jai, India Army ki Jai,” said Babu after being successfully evacuated. He thanked the army personnel for saving his life.