The 23-year-old trekker, who was trapped without food and water in a hill cleft in Kerala's Palakkad district for two days, was finally rescued by a team of Army personnel on Wednesday in one of the biggest rescue operations of recent times.
Army officers said that they crawled four hours to reach the trekker R Babu. He was given food and water and then pulled out of the cleft in the Malampuzha mountain face in which he had slipped into on Monday.
Visuals shared by the Army showed Babu stuck in a cleft on the mountain face. (Image credit: @IaSouthern/Twitter)
The 23-year-old is being given IV fluid and is getting treated for minor injuries. He will be airlifted to a hospital soon, officials said.
A video shared by the Army showed Babu being pulled to safety.
#OP_Palakkad
In a spectacular action, highly qualified Teams of Indian Army have successfully rescued Mr Babu who slipped off a cliff & was stranded in a steep gorge for over 48 hours. The operation was coordinated by #DakshinBharatArea under the aegis of #SouthernCommand@adgpi pic.twitter.com/Pcksj6WEBSRelated stories
— Southern Command INDIAN ARMY (@IaSouthern) February 9, 2022
In another video shared by news agency ANI, Babu is seen thanking the jawans for rescuing him and even planting a grateful kiss or two on their cheeks before cheering for the Army.
#WATCH | Babu, the youth trapped in a steep gorge in Malampuzha mountains in Palakkad Kerala extends his thanks to the Indian Army after being rescued. Teams of the Indian Army had undertaken the rescue operation.(Video source: Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/VzFq6zSaY6
— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2022
Babu's rescue mission involved the Coast Guard and a team from the National Disaster Response Force. The team, which specialises in mountaineering and rescue, was mobilised and rescue operation was under progress on Tuesday night.
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Visuals and updates shared by the Army showed that attempts were made from multiple locations to reach Babu while he was stuck in the cleft.
#OP_Palakkad
Rescue Operations have commenced. Attempts from multiple locations are being made to reach the person stuck in a steep gorge in Malampuzha mountains #Kerala for evacuation. #WeCare@adgpi pic.twitter.com/sujFlt6RB9— Southern Command INDIAN ARMY (@IaSouthern) February 9, 2022
A member of one of the rescue teams told a media channel that while during the day the heat is scorching and unbearable, by evening and late night it becomes windy and cold and even wild animals would be roaming about which obstructed the rescue efforts.
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According to locals, Babu and two others had decided to climb to the top of Cherad hill but while others abandoned the effort halfway, Babu continued to climb to the top. After reaching there, however, he slipped and fell and got trapped between rocks on the mountain face, locals said.
