Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (MS)

Beltangady, May 27: Vasu Ranya (83), a resident of Aingude in Shibaje village of the taluk, who went to gather firewood last Tuesday, was found on Sunday after six days.

Vasu left his house with a sickle on the morning of May 21. His family members assumed he might have gone to the nearby hill to collect firewood. However, when he did not return by afternoon, they began searching for him with the help of locals. Despite their efforts, Vasu could not be found.

The search continued daily. On Sunday, while Vasu's family members were taking their goats to graze on the hill, they heard human sounds. The Shaurya Vipathu team and locals searched based on the direction of the sound and fortunately found Vasu approximately 2.5 km inside the Bandihole forest. He was taken to Kokkada Community Hospital, where he received first aid.

Remarkably, Vasu Ranya remained healthy despite only drinking water for six days. He recounted, “I felt someone calling me, so I followed the sound. I did not eat anything, just drank water." Heavy rains accompanied by lightning and thunder occurred in the forest on the night Vasu went missing, but he remained alone throughout. A pile of leaves was discovered at the spot where Vasu was found.

The team that found Vasu included Avinash Bhide, Sheenappa, Gangadhara Shishila, Kushalappa Shishila, and Praveen Pattimaru from the Shaurya Vipathu team. Local residents Govinda, Ganesh, Suresha, Punit, Sharath, Shashikant, Vishwanath, Krishna Naika, as well as Vasu's sons Kamalaksha and Suresh, were also present.