Youth Dies in Gorge as Rescue Bid Fails

TIRUMALA: A youth, who fell into Avvachari Kona gorge on Tirumala hills on Tuesday night, died in the wee hours of Wednesday after struggling for six hours. Despite efforts, the rescue team, w

TIRUMALA: A youth, who fell into Avvachari Kona gorge on Tirumala hills on Tuesday night, died in the wee hours of Wednesday after struggling for six hours. Despite efforts, the rescue team, which reached him by midnight, could not save him.

P Rangaswamy, 29, of Vijayapura in Kolar, used to trek to the Tirumala shrine every year. This year too he started trekking from Alipiri, but fell into the gorge at about 7.30 pm. He fractured his legs and received injuries in his spine, neck and became unconscious.

Upon gaining consciousness, Rangaswamy called 108 service from his mobile phone. In turn, the 108 staff alerted CTC Sanjeevini ambulance staff, who attends to emergency cases on the Tirumala Ghat roads. Meanwhile, mediapersons got to know of the incident and Rangaswamy spoke to them and to his family. He explained his condition and sought help. However, he could not recall how he fell into the gorge.

Later, police, forest, fire and TTD vigilance personnel formed rescue teams and began a search. They found him alive at around 1:30 am and made arrangements to bring out him out of the gorge. Unfortunately, he died by the time he was brought to the road.

Ranganth, brother of the victim, said his brother would not have attempted suicide, and would had fallen accidentally. A medico-legal case was registered.

The body was shifted to TTD’s Aswini Hospital at Tirumala, where doctors declared him brought dead. Later, the body was sent to Ruia Hospital in Tirupati.

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