Lakhs were not spent to rescue Babu trapped in hills, circulated reports are fake; actual figures out

PALAKKAD: Reports that have been circulated stating lakhs were spent to rescue Babu, who was trapped in the Kurumbachi hills, are false. Only Rs 17,315 was spent from the public fund for rescuing 23-year-old Babu, said Palakkad district collector.

Rs 17,315 was spent for providing food for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and other rescue workers. The district collector had informed the matter to RTI activist Raju Vazhakkala.

Babu and his two friends had climbed the Kurumbachi hills, last February. His friends went back mid-way as they were unable to climb the steep hill. However, Babu went ahead alone. On his way back, he had slipped and fell down amid rocks.

Soon afterwards, Babu phoned his friends, who then tried to save him using ropes and branches, but to no avail. Later, they informed the locals, following which the army and NDRF arrived at the spot. The youth was rescued 46 hours later.