LAMKA, July 21: In what will be marked as a red letter day in the household of Mr and Mrs Daniel of Pherzwal Village in Thanlon sub-division, their second son who had been long declared dead and his last rites performed after he failed to return home from a hunting trip on June 29, suddenly turned up at their home.<\/p>\n
25 year old Roouthingsei had gone out on June 29 on a hunting trip and failed to return home. The next day, his worried father looked for him but couldn`\u2122t find him.<\/p>\n
The father informed the villagers and a massive manhunt was launched in the areas of Pherzawl, Bukpi, Loibual, Damdai, Tinsung and other areas.<\/p>\n
The hunt continued for seven days but Roouthingsei remained traceless.<\/p>\n
Since Roouthingsei could not be found, the family took him to be dead and conducted his funeral at Pherzawl Village as per the customary law.<\/p>\n
But as fate would have it, on July 17, a hunter from Tinsung Village found him in a very weak state inside a jungle.<\/p>\n
Family members said that the hunter found him in such a state that he was unable to even stand up, but at the same time he was conscious. He was also found holding his hunting gun.<\/p>\n
The hunter finding it hard to carry Routhingsei back on his own had called his friends and other villagers to assist him.<\/p>\n
Routhingsei was taken to the Churachandpur District Hospital during the midnight of July 18. He is still getting treatment at the hospital.<\/p>\n
Family members also said that Routhingsei had survived the whole time by eating raw bamboo shoots growing in the area.<\/p>\n
Speaking to this IFP correspondent, Routhingsei`\u2122s elder brother Lalhmingthang said Routhingsei was once bitten by a snake in 2003 and ever since then he has been having occasional seizures and it was one such seizure that had weakened him and loss consciousness.<\/p>\n
It now seems when he woke up, he was too weak to move himself and had to stay there in wait for help to arrive, the relieved brother said.<\/p>\n
He continued eating only the raw bamboo shoots had injured his intestines but he is recuperating and on his way to recovery, the brother continued.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, wife of the Thanlon MLA Mrs Vungzagin and the MDC Lalmangpui had visited him at the hospital.<\/p>\n
The family has also received help from several other individuals.<\/p>\n
Lalhmingthang also thanked the villagers of the area, Village Authorities, MDC, MLA and others who have helped in their family`\u2122s time of misfortune.<\/p>\n
Doctors said Routhingsei seems to be regaining health, and they conducting proper investigations at the moment.<\/p>\n
He said surviving on only the raw bamboo shoots had taken its toll and hopefully he will get better with time.<\/p>\n\n