Trekker who sustained leg fracture at Gadaikallu rescued

Mangaluru: What began as an adventure to one of Dakshina Kannada’s most scenic trekking destinations ended in a dramatic rescue operation on Thursday, after a tourist suffered a leg fracture and was left stranded atop Gadaikallu.

Venkatesh, fire station officer, Belthangady taluk, said that Mohammed Sharif,30, who had trekked to the hill along with three companions, including two women, found himself unable to descend after spraining his leg near the summit. The group had started their trek in the morning, after purchasing entry tickets.

Gadaikallu is at an elevation of 1,788ft above sea level, and attracts hundreds of adventure enthusiasts seeking breathtaking views of the Western Ghats. However, the trek is known for its steep rocky terrain.

The fire officer said that around 1 pm, a distress call was made to the police emergency helpline, 112, following which personnel from the Belthangady fire and emergency services were alerted, who rushed to the spot with a foldable stretcher. Locals had also joined in the mission. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the summit, that is a distance of about 3 km.

Soon, Avinash Bhide of the Dharmasthala Shaurya Disaster Response Team was alerted, and the team of five members also joined the mission. Bhide said that preliminary reports suggest that Sharif had a fall when attempting to take a selfie. He appeared to be in considerable pain, making it impossible for him to negotiate the descent. What followed was a coordinated operation involving firefighters, forest officials, disaster response volunteers and locals. Taking turns to carry the injured trekker down the steep hill, the rescuers carefully navigated the rugged terrain to ensure his safety.

The rescue operation concluded around 4.45 pm, when Sharif was brought down and shifted to a hospital for treatment. Witnesses said he was visibly in pain, but relieved as rescuers reached him.

A senior forest official said that because of the difficult terrain, there have been several instances of trekkers getting sprains, especially during descent.