Mountaineers from the Indian army have rescued an injured trekker who was stranded without food and water for nearly 48 hours in the cleft of a steep hill in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
In a daring mission Teams of MADRAS Regimental Centre and Parachute Regimental Training Centre under the aegis of Southern Command undertook a spectacular rescue operation to extricate a stranded trekker Mr Babu stuck in a steep gorge in Malampuzha mountains, Palakkad, Kerala.
A team of 4 amateur trekkers on 07 Feb 22 had ventured into the Malampuzha Reserve Forest area in Palakkad District. Among them was the 23-year-old boy R Babu who accidentally slipped into a 600 meter deep cleft on the hill face.
When rescue efforts by locals, police, Fire and Rescue Services including Helicopters of the Indian Coast Guard could not fructify due to the treacherous terrain the Indian Army was requisitioned by the State Government on 08 Feb at 8:00 PM.
Army Specialist Teams with Qualified Mountaineers and Rock Climbing experts including Everest Expeditioners from Parachute Regimental Centre Bangalore and Madras Regimental Centre Centre, Wellington were mobilised under the coordination of Dakshin Bharat Area Chennai.
On reaching the location the Teams carried out a thorough reconnaissance of the site employing all means including drones. A strategy of multiple approaches was employed to ensure a greater chance of success. Operations for rescue commenced at first light on 09 Feb.
All through contact and verbal communication was maintained to keep the boy in high morale.
IAF helicopters were kept on standby for all contingencies.
Finally, at around 10:15 AM on 09 Feb the teams in a coordinated effort, employed rock climbing experts and rescued the trekker in a safe and healthy state and reunited him with his family.
The army personnel who conducted the rescue operation reached near R Babu and gave him water and food. A member of the rescue team took him to the top of the hill after giving him safety gears,” reported news website Manorama.
The extremely delighted parents and grateful state authorities expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Army.
The swift response and professionalism displayed by the teams have reiterated the confidence of the Nation in the indomitable force called the Indian Army.
(By Pratyusha Mukherjee, a renowned Journalist of Kolkata)