Youth Trapped in the Hill Cleft for 48 hours: Part 2
Before reading this, if you have not read the part 1 of this story, hit the link and go ahead. 👉Link: https://medium.com/@bsdevi1997/youth-trapped-in-the-hill-cleft-for-48-hours-part-1-fec0f90fafb3
In part 1 of the story, Babu was trapped in the hill cleft in the restricted area in Palakad. The initial rescue operation was failed. So, what’s the next approach to rescue him? Let’s go into it.
Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requested the assistance of the Army to rescue the youth, a team comprising members who are proficient in mountaineering and rescue operations, reached Malampuzha from Bengaluru late in the night. District Collector Mrunmai Joshi told reporters that the actual rescue operation will start at the crack of dawn on Wednesday.
So, the Army started climbing the hill and their first attempt was to contact Babu. The youth’s response gave them big motivation for them. The rescuers told him not to shout and water will be be brought to him soon. The armymen decided to take Babu up instead of taking him downhill, a risky affair. Two members of the Madras Regimental Centre — Naik Bala and Subedar Deepak and they rappelled down to the point where Babu was stuck.
Naik Bala reached Babu around 9.30 am and gave him water and food. After securing him with ropes and cables, a weak Babu was carried halfway to the top. On the first sight of Babu, the entire crowd could be seen breaking into applause. Babu was hugged and patted on the back by people who he was seeing for the first time, but who were crucial in saving his life.
Upon reaching the top, Babu thanked all those involved in his rescue and even went on to kiss a few personnel on the cheek as a token of his appreciation. Meanwhile, his family were in tears and uttering prayers. Babu’s family members, after the rescue, told the media that they had full faith that the Army would save him.
He was then airlifted by an Indian Air Force helicopter and taken to Palakkad District Hospital, where he underwent treatment. The rescue operation had been named as ‘Op Palakkad’ by the Indian Army and was launched under the aegis of Lieutenant General A Arun, General Officer Commanding, Dakshin Bharat Area.
The army lauded Babu for his willpower to survive in the place where he was trapped.
Babu was charged by the Forest Department in Palakad for trespassing the restricted area. But were dissuaded by some of their seniors at the Forest Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.
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