Youth rescued after 12 hour ordeal in Ooty Gorge fall

A 28-year-old was rescued after a 12-hour operation from a 150-foot gorge near Usimalai on the Gudalur–Ooty National Highway in the Nilgiris district.
The youth, identified as Sivagurunathan from Thiruporur in Chengalpattu district, had reportedly entered a restricted area and slipped into the gorge while taking a selfie on Thursday evening.
Despite the fall, he managed to alert the hotel where he was staying using his mobile phone. Acting on the information, teams from the Naduvattam police, forest department and fire and rescue services rushed to the spot. A drone search confirmed that he was alive.
Rescue efforts were initially hampered by darkness and difficult terrain. Forest and fire personnel attempted to reach him using ropes, while precautionary measures were taken against wild animals in the area.
Following this, assistance was sought from the Army. Personnel from the Wellington military station in Coonoor joined the operation with specialised equipment and continued rescue efforts through the night.
After prolonged efforts, Sivagurunathan was rescued alive and admitted to a hospital with serious injuries.