A large number of people, admirers and officials bade a tearful farewell to mountaineer Malli Masthan Babu as the last rites were performed with State honours at his native place Gandhi Janasangham, about 40 km from here on Saturday.
Masthan Babu, who had quit a comfortable engineering career and pursued his mountaineering passion that eventually led to his untimely death in the hostile weather atop the Andes mountain ranges in South America in third week of March. The 40-year-old mountaineer, who went missing in the Andes on March 21, was later found dead on April 4. The retrieval of his body from the treacherous mountain ranges proved difficult and time-taking. As the mountaineer’s mortal remains were placed at his house prior to the last journey, people cutting across different sections of society paid their homage.
Union Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, accompanied by Medical and Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, paid his last respects to the mountaineer at his native place. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu said: “With his many mountaineering feats, Masthan Babu achieved name and fame higher than the peak of Mt. Everest. His courageous acts will be remembered for long and he will be reborn.”.
Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana, I&PR Minister Palle Raghunadha Reddy and Social Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu were among those who took part in the funeral procession. Collector M. Janaki, SP Gajarao Bhupal and other officers also were present.
