Udupi: A 67-year-old retired armed forces officer was rescued after he was found wandering without clothes and in an extremely exhausted condition near the Achchada railway tracks under the Kaup police station limits. Social worker Vishu Shetty Ambalapady and local police personnel came to his aid and shifted him to the Udupi district hospital for treatment and care.
Elderly man found in distress near railway tracks
The elderly man has been identified as Shashi Shekhar Thakur, a native of Tamil Nadu. He was reportedly found sitting naked near the railway tracks, appearing severely exhausted and unable to walk.
After receiving information about the man’s condition, social worker Vishu Shetty, accompanied by Kaup police personnel Manjunath Shetty, immediately reached the location. The rescue team assessed his condition and arranged for him to be taken to the district hospital.
The circumstances that led the elderly man to the railway tracks remain unclear. His condition at the time of rescue raised concerns about his physical and mental well-being.
Identity cards reveal armed forces background
During the rescue, the team checked the belongings that were found with Thakur. A bag containing his clothes, identity cards and cash of Rs 47,000 was recovered.
The identity documents helped establish his background. According to the details available from the documents, Thakur had served in the armed forces and had retired from service as a lieutenant commander.
The discovery of his military background added urgency to efforts to trace his family and establish how he came to be in such a vulnerable condition near the railway tracks.
Suspected memory loss or severe depression
At the time of his rescue, Thakur appeared to be experiencing significant mental distress. Prima facie, he was suspected to be suffering from amnesia or severe depression, though his exact medical condition will be determined by doctors treating him.
His inability to walk and his severely exhausted state also required immediate medical attention. He has since been admitted to the Udupi district hospital, where he is receiving treatment and care.
Officials and those involved in the rescue are now seeking information that could help locate his relatives and reunite him with his family.
Appeal to relatives to contact police
Social worker Vishu Shetty has appealed to Thakur’s relatives, friends, former colleagues or anyone who may have information about his family to come forward.
Those who recognise Shashi Shekhar Thakur or have information about his relatives have been urged to contact the Kaup police station or the Udupi district hospital at the earliest.
The appeal is aimed at ensuring that the elderly retired officer receives the support and care of his family while he continues his treatment.
The incident has also highlighted the importance of timely intervention when vulnerable elderly persons are found in distress in public places. In this case, the prompt response from the social worker and police personnel helped ensure that the retired officer was moved to a safe environment and provided medical attention.