Fireflies, Moonlight, and Survival: Kerala techie lost in Kodagu forest rescued after four days

A 36-year-old IT professional from Kerala , G S Sharanya , survived nearly four days alone in the dense forests of Tadiandamol hills before being rescued on Sunday night, emerging from the ordeal calm, composed and remarkably undeterred.

Sharanya, a native of Nadapuram in Kozhikode district , had set out on April 2 with a trekking group to climb Tadiandamol , the highest peak in Kodagu. During the descent, she became separated from the group after taking a different trail and soon realised she was lost. Her last contact was a call to a homestay in Kakkabe village , after which her phone battery died, cutting her off from the outside world.

With no food and only a 500 ml water bottle , Sharanya relied on a nearby forest stream to survive. She spent nights on rocky outcrops, which she believed were safer from wildlife, and moved during the day to open patches, hoping to be spotted by search teams or drones. Despite intermittent rain, steep terrain and the constant uncertainty, she remained calm. “I did not feel scared. I don’t know why,” she said.

Recounting the experience later, Sharanya spoke less of hardship and more of the forest’s quiet beauty. “By evening, fireflies would fill the whole forest . There was moonlight, and the sky was so clear. I could see stars,” she said, describing what she called a surreal companionship in isolation.

A massive rescue operation involving forest officials, police, Anti-Naxal Force personnel and local tribal communities , with nearly 70 people deployed, combed the region using drones, sniffer dogs and ground patrols . Acting on instinct, Sharanya climbed uphill on the fourth day and began shouting for help. Local tribal residents eventually heard her and guided rescuers to her location in a remote patch rarely traversed.

She walked out to the rescue teams on her own, even smiling after days in the wild. Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre confirmed she was in stable condition and did not suffer serious injuries.

Back home, her family expressed relief and gratitude. Her mother, who had waited through days of uncertainty, said she never lost faith. “I knew she would come back,” she said.

Far from being shaken, Sharanya said the experience has only strengthened her resolve. Trekking, she said, remains her passion and when asked about her next plan, she replied simply, “Maybe after the summer season.”