Trapped in mountain cleft for about 46 hrs, Babu brought back to life by Indian Army

After 46 hours of intense efforts, Indian Army on Wednesday rescued the 23-year-old man who got trapped in a hill cleft in Kerala's Palakkad district. The Army team reached him and began carrying him up. He was immediately given food and water.

However, the uphill journey was difficult and the man, R Babu, had to rest often on the way. Army officers said they crawled four hours to reach Babu.

Coast Guard's helicopter will airlift him to the hospital. According to reports, he will be taken to Palakkad district hospital.

As per reports, the young man fell through a cleft while trekking with his friends and was trapped in the crevice, from where he was able to send selfies and photos of his location to friends and rescuers.

Friends of the trapped trekker said he had suffered an injury before slipping into the opening in the side of Cherad hill. Babu's friends tried everything, including wooden sticks, logs, ropes, but Babu could not climb up. His friends then went down the hill and informed the local residents and the police.

The Indian Army, Navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had launched one of the biggest operations in recent history to rescue Babu, who has been without food and water for the extent of his entrapment. A helicopter had been sent to try to reach him but the severe downdraft experienced prevented rescuers from attempting it. A drone carrying bottled water was also sent but it could not reach him, officials said.

Babu's mother and brother were camping near base camp.

The mountaineering team of the Indian Army was also a part of the rescue operation. The teams had made contact with Babu 48 hours after the rescue operation was launched. They have also been attempting to keep wild animals away by lighting flambeaus and several members of the rescue team also spotted three bears in the area.