Naidu, Venkaiah Condole Demise Of Mastan Babu

Union Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu has condoled the sad demise of Malli Mastan Babu, the ace mountaineer hailing from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu spoke with the members of the family of Mastan Babu and conveyed his heartfelt condolences.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had informed Naidu this morning that the body of Babu had been found at a 6,000 feet height in the Ceros mountains.

Mastan Babu is regarded as the fastest "7 summiteer" in the world - the fastest to climb summits in all the seven continents. He also made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for his mountaineering expeditions.

An alumnus of IIM Calcutta and IIT Kharagpur, Babu went to climb the Ceros mountains this time. He apparently began his ascent from the Argentina side. He was supposed to return on the 24th, but did not, and had been missing since then. Immediately upon hearing the news, Naidu spoke to Swaraj and requested her to take all necessary steps to find the whereabouts of Babu and rescue him.

The Minister for External Affairs also took up the matter with the governments of Chile and Argentina, and both the governments sent rescue teams in search of Babu.

Swaraj informed Naidu that the Government of India would bring back the body to the airport nearest to his village - i. e. the Chennai airport. Naidu spoke to the Collector and other senior officials of Nellore to make arrangements to take the body to his village in the Nellore district, once the body reached Chennai.

Naidu also spoke to Dr. Dorasanamma, the sister of Mastan Babu, and informed her about the arrangements.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also expressed his deep grief and condolences over the tragic demise of Babu.

"My tributes to mountaineer Mastan Babu. I stand by his family members in this hour of grief. He made us proud by following his passion," the Chief Minister added. (INN)