A woman from Kerala, aged 36, who disappeared during a trek in Kodagu district of Karnataka, has been found safe after four days, officials announced on Sunday. The Karnataka Forest Minister, Eshwar Khandre, confirmed her good health during a press briefing in Bengaluru.
The woman, identified as Sharanya, works in the IT sector and hails from Kozhikode. She embarked on the trek to Tadiandamol peak on April 2 with a group of 15 individuals and a guide. When the team returned to the base camp later that day, Sharanya was missing, prompting an immediate search operation.
In her statement following the rescue, Sharanya recounted losing her way while descending the trail. She expressed that despite her isolation in the dense forest for four days without much water or communication, she remained unwavering in her belief that help would reach her.
Despite the challenges of being alone in a forest known for its elephant population, enduring heavy rainfall, and lacking means of communication, Sharanya conveyed that she never felt fear during her ordeal. She shared her strategy of positioning herself in open areas to increase visibility for potential search efforts.
The rescue mission involved nine teams, including forest officials, police, the Anti-Naxal Squad, and local tribal communities, with the deployment of thermal drone cameras for surveillance. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah escalated the operation following a plea from the Kerala government to intervene personally.
Praising Sharanya’s courage and the collective efforts of the rescue operation, Minister Khandre emphasized the government’s obligation to locate any missing trekker, irrespective of their origin. Sharanya’s return home to Nadapuram was met with relief and tears of joy from her mother, who never lost faith in her daughter’s safe return.
Sharanya viewed her time in the forest not just as a survival test but as a transformative experience that has fortified her spirit. When asked about future hiking plans, she expressed her readiness for more adventures, possibly in the upcoming summer.