New Delhi: A 36-year-old Kerala woman who went missing during a trekking at Tadiandamol hills in Karnataka’s Kodagu has been found after a four-day search operation.
The Nadapuram native was located in a forested area in Kodagu on Sunday and is currently safe.
G S Sharanya, a techie, had gone trekking to Tadiandamol, the highest peak in Kodagu. She was staying at a private homestay in Kakkabe village. Initially, entry into the forest area was denied by the Forest Department, but after permission was granted, she began the trek on April 2 along with a group of 10 people.
Lost her way in the forest
However, she reportedly lost her way in the forest. Around 2 pm that day, homestay authorities received a message indicating that she had gone missing. The rest of the group returned by Thursday evening, but Saranya did not.
The Forest Department and police launched a search operation, but locating her proved difficult as her phone was switched off, making it impossible to track her location.
Nine teams conducted round-the-clock search operation to locate her and after four days, she was finally found.
“The woman has now been found, and I have also spoken to her. She is healthy,” Karnataka forest minister Eshwar Khandre told reporters.
Karnataka CM expressed concern
Earlier, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal had expressed concern about the missing woman. Additional teams were deployed on Sunday for the search and rescue operation.
“Today, 40 additional forest personnel were deployed. A total of nine teams conducted the search operation, with support from the Police Department, Anti-Naxal Squad, and Forest Department. Local tribal people also assisted,” Khandre added.
Sharanya will be shifted to Madikeri Medical College for medical evaluation.