A French tourist had a narrow escape after slipping and falling while attempting to climb a hill near the octagonal bathing pool and Mahanavami mound in Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka. He spent two days stranded following a hill fall and managed to crawl to a nearby banana plantation to seek help. The incident occurred on December 24, when the tourist was left stranded in a deserted area for nearly 48 hours before being rescued.
The injured tourist has been identified as Bruno Roger (52), a native of France, who was travelling alone and staying at a homestay in Kaddirampura. According to police, he slipped around 6 pm while trying to climb the hill behind the octagonal bathing pool near the Mahanavami mound and suffered severe injuries to his leg, leaving him unable to move.
With no immediate help available in the isolated area, Bruno remained at the foot of the hill for two days. On Friday, despite his injuries, he managed to crawl to a nearby banana plantation, where local farmers noticed his condition and alerted the police.
Police personnel, along with officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), rushed to the spot and rescued the injured tourist. He was first taken to the 100-bed government hospital in the city and later shifted to Koppal District Hospital for further treatment.
Doctors have confirmed that Bruno’s condition is stable and that he is recovering. Authorities, including the police and the district administration, have advised tourists to avoid venturing alone into deserted or restricted areas while visiting Hampi.
Hampi, located along the Tungabhadra river in Vijayanagara district, is a major tourist destination known for the Hampi Group of Monuments, including the Virupaksha Temple. In a similar incident in August 2019, five French tourists were among over 250 people rescued from a flooded island near Hampi.