Kerala Trekker Stuck on the Mountain Rescued After 45 Hrs
The Indian Army rescued a trekker stuck for nearly two days on a hill between rocks in Palakkad, Kerala.
The Kurumbachi hills are 6km away from Cheradu in Kerala’s Palakkad District. It is a popular trekking spot but the Kerala Forest Department had earlier warned visitors of the risks in trekking as the mountain is very steep. R Babu (23) and his friends climbed up the Kurumbachi hills on Monday 7 February 2022. While trekking down, Babu stumbled on the rocks and fell into a gorge. His friends used sticks and ropes but they were unable to rescue him. They then reached down the hill and informed the cops. A unit of the Kerala Fire and Rescue and the police reached the spot by midnight on Monday.
They were unable to initiate rescue activities due to visibility issues. However, the group stayed nearby to ensure Babu's safety. The team lit flambeaus (fire torches) to keep wild animals away during the night. Meanwhile, Babu had sent selfies and photographs of the spot where he was stuck to his friends and the police so that it could help in his rescue operations. They tried to rescue him using a helicopter but that failed as it was unable to get close to the steep mountain. A member of one of the rescue teams told a news channel that while the heat is searing and terrible during the day, it turns windy and chilly in the evenings. Late nights and even wild animals roam the area, disrupting rescue attempts. Babu's family members and friends have gathered at the foot of the hills with prayers to get him back unharmed.
Monday and Tuesday he was stuck on the mountain. For almost 45 hours he had no access to food or water. That’s when Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan intervened and requested the Indian Army's assistance in rescuing the youth. A team of the army that specialized in mountaineering arrived from Bengaluru on Tuesday night. Even the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Rescuing the youth was a very difficult task. The army used drones to check the position where he was stuck. The army then climbed up the hill. Once they were up, they used a thick rope to climb down to the spot where Babu stuck. The mountain was very steep and climbing down was very difficult & life-threatening. Somehow the army reached babu. When they reached him, they gave him water to drink. He drank water after 45 hours! Babu and the army climbed to the top of the mountain Wednesday 9.30 am. Back at the top of the hill, Babu was seen all cheerful despite experiencing a two-day difficult time. He was also seen kissing the army as a mark of thanks. Babu was then airlifted to a hospital. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan thanked the armed forces for carrying out the rescue operation successfully.
