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'500ml water, no network, no fear': Missing Kerala techie Sharanya survives 4 days in Kodagu forests, found safe

MADIKERI: Surviving on just a 500 ml bottle of water, with no mobile network and fading chances of contact, 36-year-old Kerala trekker G S Sharanya spent four days alone in the dense forests of Karnataka's Kodagu district, an ordeal she says she endured without fear. Sharanya, an IT professional from Kozhikode, had gone missing on April 2 after getting separated from her trekking group while descending Tadiandamol, the highest peak in Kodagu. What followed was a four-day struggle through thick forest, unpredictable weather and unfamiliar terrain, even as a multi-agency search operation intensified to locate her. Recounting the experience after her rescue on Sunday, she said she "lost her way somehow" while climbing down and could not trace her group. With her phone battery running out and no network connectivity, she was left completely cut off. "I walked till evening on the first day, but after that I couldn't go further because of the dense forest. I stayed near a stream," she said. In the days that followed, she kept moving intermittently, hoping to find a trail or human presence. Despite being in a forest region known for wildlife movement, including elephants, and facing spells of rain, Sharanya said fear never set in. "I did not feel scared. I don't know why," she said, appearing calm and composed as she emerged from the forest."I lost my way and when I saw people on the hilltop, I tried to reach them by taking a route uphill, but soon they disappeared from view. I then moved downhill but lost network connectivity and ended up in a dense forest. I kept walking till around 6.45pm, and my phone also got switched off," she said.She said she reached a rocky stream area and spent the night there, as she had pain in her leg, avoided walking much on the first day. On the second day, she stayed in the area which had good visibility hoping she would be spotted if anyone conduct search using drones.Sharanya said that though she initially planned to climb to a higher point on the third day, rain disrupted her plans. She said she waited till noon on Sunday for her clothes to dry.Sharanya added that she kept screaming intermittently in the hope that someone would hear her. It was the residents, part of the search team, who eventually heard her sounds and traced her. Her disappearance had triggered a massive search effort involving nine teams comprising forest officials, police personnel, Anti-Naxal Squad members and local tribal communities familiar with the terrain. The operation, initially slowed by darkness on the first day, was scaled up with additional manpower and technology, including thermal drone cameras, on the directions of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. After more than 72 hours of searching, Sharanya was finally spotted on Sunday afternoon in a remote patch of forest by members of a tribal community. Officials said the location was an area "where nobody usually goes," underlining the difficulty of the operation. She was found conscious and stable, and was immediately escorted out before being taken for medical evaluation. Authorities confirmed she was healthy and did not suffer any major injuries. Sharanya had been staying at a homestay in Kodagu and had joined the trek as part of a group. While the others returned safely the same day, her absence led to an alert being raised, prompting the search that continued round-the-clock. Karnataka forest minister Eshwar Khandre described her as "brave and adventurous," noting that lack of connectivity had made tracking her difficult. Officials also credited the role of local tribal communities, whose knowledge of the terrain proved crucial in locating her.

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