Mangaluru
An 83-year-old man who had gone into a hillock in Belthangady taluk to collect firewood was missing for five days, and he was traced 2.5km from his house. Vasu Ranya, from Ainguda in Shibaje village is said to have survived without food or water, and slept on a bed of dry leaves as he waited for some assistance to return home.
Sources said Ranya left home on May 21 with a sickle to collect firewood and lost his way while looking for a way out.
Family members, neighbours and members of Shourya Disaster Management Team of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project began a search in the forest when Ranya did not return by the afternoon.
Shourya team member Avinash Bhide told that the elderly man left home around 10 am on May 21. By 3pm, they began a search. Since he is very old, we had suspicions he might have lost his way, he said. In fact, villagers had heard the voice of someone crying for help on Saturday evening. Following this, Shourya volunteers and others split into two teams to continue the search in that direction, he said.
The team members took it as a challenge, covered all areas and finally found Ranya standing near a tree inside Bhandihole forest, about 2.5 km away from his house. We also found a bed of leaves beneath the tree. It is suspected he might have been sleeping on it. There were no fruits or any other food for him to eat. Moreover, the area did not have water too. Hence, we suspect he survived for five days without food or water. In fact, he does not remember his five days of stay in the forest, Bhide said.
Ranya, who was found tired, was taken to the Primary Health Centre in Kokkada and given treatment, he said, adding the doctor sent him back home as there were no health issues other than weakness.
