After two days of tension and anxiety, a youth who was trapped in a hill cleft during a trekking attempt in Kerala's Palakkad district was brought back to safety by the Indian Army on Wednesday.

 

R Babu, a native of Cheradu near Malampuzha, was brought to the top of the hill by the army team after an hours-long rescue effort. Back at the top of the hill, Babu was seen all cheerful despite experiencing a two-day ordeal. Visuals aired by Manorama News showed a smiling Babu sitting with the rescue team. He was also seen kissing the armymen as a mark of thanks. Babu, along with the armymen, hailed the Indian Army.

 

Around 9.30 am, a soldier named Bala reached near Babu and gave him water and food. Bala took Babu to the top of the hill then. They were joined by another soldier in between.

 

Babu will be airlifted from the top of the hill and shifted to the Palakkad District Hospital.

 

The 23-year-old youth has been trapped in the hill cleft near Malampuzha for the past 43 hours without food or water. A team of the Indian Army, specialised in mountaineering, started the rescue operation Tuesday night after other efforts to rescue the youth failed.