Sharanya from Kerala was earlier reported missing from Tadiandamol in Kodagu. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The 36-year-old trekker, who went missing in Tadiandamol forests in Kodagu district on April 2, was found on April 5.
Kodagu District Superintendent Bindu Mani RN said Sharanya GS, a trekker from Kozhikode in Kerala, was found about six kilometers from Tadiandamol peak by a team comprising local Kudiya tribals and forest department personnel.
A trekker who got lost in the forests of Tadiandamolu has been found in a “safe” and “healthy condition”. “She said she survived on the water and slept by the rocks overnight,” Ms Mani said.
In a statement, Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre said the woman had shown remarkable courage and resilience despite being alone in the forest for four days. Instructions have been given to escort Ms Sharanya safely back to her home in Kerala, he said.
Ms Sharanya, who traveled from Kerala for trekking and stayed with a family in Kakkabbe village, set out for the Tandiandamol hills on April 2 along with a guide and 15 other trekkers.
While the rest of the group returned to base camp that afternoon, Sharanya did not. She called her family and told them she was lost. Mr Khandre said search operations were launched immediately with the help of five teams.
“As soon as the information was received, five teams of around 50 personnel, including police, anti-Naxal squad, dog squad and forest personnel, launched search operations,” he said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal expressed concern over the missing trekker. On instructions from Mr. Siddaramaiah, search operations were intensified on April 5 with the deployment of additional personnel and drone cameras. About 40 additional forest personnel were deployed that day, bringing the total number of teams to nine, he said.
Mr. Khandre said he remained in constant touch with senior officials of the police and forest department.
Acknowledging the help of the local tribal communities in the search operations, Mr. Khandre congratulated and expressed his gratitude to all the personnel from various agencies involved in the search operation.
“Due to the lack of mobile network in the forest, it was not possible to determine her exact location, which caused a delay in locating her,” he noted.
The Forest Minister also pointed out that if anyone from any state goes missing during the trekking, it will be the government’s responsibility to find them. “We have fulfilled our responsibility,” he said.
Published – 05 Apr 2026 15:34 IST
