'Four Days, 500 ml Water, No Signal': Kerala Woman’s Daring Survival in Tadiandamol Hills

Kodagu: A 36-year-old missing Kerala trekker displayed exemplary determination in the face of odds and survived four days in adverse conditions. GS Sharanya, a native of Nadapuram in Kozhikode district of Kerala and a techie by profession, went missing in the Tadiandamol hills of Karnataka's Kodagu district. When shehen was found on Sunday, she was calm and composed and walked out to the rescuers with a smile.Sharanya was part of a 10-member group that had set out for trekking on Thursday, reported news agency PTI. As per the woman techie, she “lost her way somehow” but never felt afraid during the ordeal. She was reported to have reached the Thadiyandamol trekking base around 7 am that day. Later, authorities were alerted after she failed to return.

It led to the launch of a search operation. Sharanya was left only with a 500 ml bottle of water and no mobile connectivity when she lost her way. The woman techie told reporters that she tried contacting a colleague before her phone ran out of charge."I had lost my way. I could not see anyone when I climbed down. I came to a left-side path but could not find anyone," the woman trekker said, as quoted by PTI. She revealed that she walked till around 6.45 pm on the first day after losing the path. She then stayed in an open space near a stream, as she could not proceed further because of the dense forest. Sharanya kept moving to find help, but in vain.Also Read: Indian Trekker Films Brazilian Boy Picking Up Trash Left By 'Indian Tourists'; Sparks Online Debate – VIDEO Despite being alone in a forest area believed to be frequented by elephants and amid intermittent heavy rain, the woman said fear never overtook her. “I did not feel scared. I don't know why,” she said with a confident smile. She was eventually spotted by a group of locals in a remote patch of the forest “where nobody usually goes," according to members of the rescue team. Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre confirmed that the woman had been found and was in good health.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzAC2MBF2Ok

Massive Search Operation Launched:Nine teams were formed to locate Sharanya.. These teams include forest officials, Anti-Naxal Squad members, and local tribal communities. Sharanya, who was staying at a private homestay in Kakkabe village, had set out on April 2 for a trek to the Tadiandamol peak along with a guide and a group of trekkers but went missing later that day.Officials said she had last contacted the homestay on Thursday, informing them that she had lost her way. Karanatka Chief Minister Siddaramaiha directed officials to carry out intensive search operations. State Forest Minister Khandre described her as “brave and adventurous," noting that the lack of mobile connectivity in the forest had made it difficult to trace her location.(With inputs from PTI)