Mountaineer Malli Mastan Babu's body brought to his AP village

Nellore: The body of Indian mountaineer Malli Mastan babu, who died during an expedition in the Andes in Argentina last month, reached his native place in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh on Friday.

Collector M Janaki said the last rites would be performed with the state honours tomorrow.

"We have made arrangements to keep his body in his native village Gandhi Janasangam. The Government has also issued orders to perform last rites with State honour," the official told PTI.

Babu, who had set a record of climbing seven summits, left for Argentina towards the end of March. He went missing on March 24, and was found dead in the Andes few days later.

There has been a delay in bringing the body to his native place due to inclement weather in Argentina's mountains, the release said.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who is from Nellore district, had sought intervention of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to bring back the mountaineer's body.

Babu's mortal remains arrived in Delhi in the morning and was sent to Chennai in an Air India flight in the afternoon. His sister Dr Dorassanamma accompanied the body, a PIB release said.