Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga (SP)

Shivamogga, Mar 1: Widely acclaimed rock climber, Jyothiraj alias Kothiraj, who has a large fan following for his skill in hiking steep cliffs and buidings by using his limbs alone, came back from the depths of Jog Falls on Wednesday February 28. Jyothiraj, who has been nick-named by the people 'Kothiraj' because of his climbing technics which can only be matched by monkeys, had gone down the steep ravine on Tuesday afternoon at the request of a Bengaluru-based family which believes that their son had ended his life by jumping into the falls from atop the hillock.

There was no information about Jyothiraj till late night on Tuesday, although some of his team members who also had gone for the same mission returned empty-handed. This had given rise to apprehension among his close ones. On Wednesday morning, however, he was helped out of the situation he was in.

It is gathered that Jyothiraj, who began to climb up the hillock from the bottom of the falls in search of the missing youth, became very weak and hence rested on the rock at the base of Raja Falls for the night. Some sources claimed that he slipped down a crevice and suffered some injuries to his back. On Wednesday morning, he pelted stones from his spot to indicate his presence. A drone that was used by some locals also had given indications about his presence at the base of the falls. A 20-member team which came from various parts of the state to look for him too got hint about his location. Fire brigade which launched the rescue operation with equipment succeeded in bringing Jyothiraj out safely.