Did not feel scared: Kerala techie rescued after four days lost in Kodagu forest

A 36-year-old IT professional from Kerala who went missing during a trek in the hills near Tadiandamol in Kodagu district of Karnataka was rescued on Sunday after surviving nearly four days alone in the dense forests of the Western Ghats.

G S Sharanya, a native of Nadapuram in Kozhikode district of Kerala and an IT professional based in Kochi, had set out on April 2 with a trekking group and a guide to climb Tadiandamol, the highest peak in Kodagu. During the descent, she became separated from the group and unknowingly took a different trail into the forest.

“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,” Sharanya told reporters after being rescued.

She tried calling a colleague and attempted to contact the forest helpline, but there was no network in the area and her phone battery soon died. With only a 500-ml bottle of water and no food , she continued walking through the forest until evening on the first day.

“I walked till around 6.45 pm after losing the path. After that I stayed in an open space near a stream because the forest was too dense to move further,” she said.

The stream became her main source of water over the next few days. Sharanya spent the nights on rocks beside the stream and moved to nearby open areas during the day in the hope that rescue teams might notice her.

“On the second day I climbed to a higher place because I thought a drone searching for me might see me,” she said.

The region received intermittent rain during the period, making the nights cold and uncomfortable. “On the third day it rained heavily and I was completely drenched. It was very cold and I could not sleep,” she recalled.

Despite being alone in a forest known for wildlife such as elephants, Sharanya said she remained calm throughout the ordeal. “I did not feel scared. I don’t know why ,” she said.

Her disappearance triggered a large search operation involving forest officials, police, Anti-Naxal Force personnel and local tribal volunteers familiar with the terrain. Nearly 70 people participated in the effort, using drones, sniffer dogs and ground patrols to comb the trekking routes and surrounding forest areas.

On Sunday, Sharanya decided to climb uphill again and began shouting periodically in the hope someone would hear her. Local tribal residents assisting the search eventually heard her calls and guided the rescue teams to the spot where she had taken shelter near the stream.

Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre confirmed that she had been located and was in stable condition. “I spoke to her. She is healthy and is not facing any complications,” he said.

The rescue brought relief to her family in Kerala. Her parents said they had remained hopeful during the search and believed she would return safely.

Sharanya was later escorted out of the forest and taken for a medical examination. Officials said she did not suffer serious injuries and arrangements were being made for her return home.