Wayanad’s lone Cholanayaka authorities servant dies in forest accident

Express News Service
KOZHIKODE: Wayanad is mourning the demise of its lone forest watcher from the Cholanayaka tribal group — Babu Parappanpara. The 36-year-old’s fad to go looking for honey together with 9 of his mates proved deadly on Thursday night time after he reportedly fell right into a gorge inside Kolimattam forest below Meppadi vary round 8 pm.

“Babu, who was always prepared for an adventure inside the forest, is an expert in harvesting honey from giant combs dangling from huge trees. Eyeing a huge comb on a tree next to a boulder, he got atop the rock as his friends held a ladder firmly for him. To gain a better position and get hold of the comb, Babu reportedly leaned backwards and took the support of a branch protruding from another tree nearby. Suddenly the branch gave way, Babu lost his grip and plunged into a 200-feet gorge,” stated Mohandas M, Baderi Section Forest Officer. The physique was recovered on Friday morning.

According to well being sources, a check revealed that Babu was COVID-19 optimistic and therefore the funeral might be held on Saturday as per the protocol. He is survived by spouse Sreeja and 5 kids.

Recruited to the forest division in 2014 as watcher, Babu is the lone authorities servant from the Cholanayaka tribe which comes below ‘significantly susceptible tribal group’ (PVTG). After being inducted into service, he obtained married from Kadachikunnu and stayed within the forest quarters at Vettathuvayal, therefore shedding his join with Parappanpara.

Bridge to Cholanayakas

Wayanad has solely 13 Cholanayaka households which encompass 43 folks, settled at Parappanpara in Moopainad gram panchayat — essentially the most inaccessible of all of the tribal settlements within the district because of its steep terrain.

“Babu was the true son of the forest. The loss is irreparable. Be it for communicating with the Cholanayakas for health programme, education, rehabilitation, census or any other activity whatsoever, Babu was the bridge between the isolated tribals and the government,” reminisced C Cheriyan, district undertaking Officer of Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP).

Having an intensive data of the methods and vagaries of forest life, Babu was the ultimate phrase for researchers and environmentalists as nicely. He had the stable well being to climb down the steep treachorous terrain to succeed in Parappanpara and return again uphill 4 kilometres away to succeed in Sunrise Valley in a single day itself, fairly an unimaginable mission for others.

It was via Babu that new technology youngsters of his group went to Model Residential School (MRS) at Kallur for education.