A trekker in the Malampuzha area of Palakkad in Kerala, who was trapped on a hill between rocks for nearly two days, was rescued by the Indian Army on Wednesday (February 9) morning.

The Army teams were mobilised overnight and rescue operations had begun early this morning. 

According to Coast Guard, the helicopter pilot had decided to hover the aircraft near the ridge where the survivor was stranded, but due to "topography of terrain and various met conditions the helicopter was experiencing heavy downdraft" and therefore, the mission was earlier aborted.

As per reports, after the Coast Guard efforts failed, a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was also attempting to reach the youth who appeared to be sitting in a small recess on the mountain face.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also intervened and had sought the help of the Army to rescue the youth.

“Mountaineering experts from Indian Army with all the modern equipments for the rescue operations moved towards Cherad Hill, Malampuzha for the rescue of the youth, Mr.Babu who is trapped inside the fault line of Koormbachi hillock, Palakkad,” a defence spokesperson based in Trivandrum said.

“Two army officers, two JCOs and five other ranks from Wellington are expected to reach the location before midnight.IAF will be transporting one more mountaineering team of army from Bengaluru, which will be joining the first team by tomorrow (Wednesday) early morning,” the spokesperson added.

According to locals, Babu, along with two others had on Monday decided to climb to the top of Cherad hill there, but the other two abandoned the effort halfway. Babu, however, continued to climb to the top, and after reaching there, slipped and fell and got trapped between rocks on the mountain face.