CHIKKAMAGALURU: A Class 10 student from Kerala has gone missing in the Chandradrona Hill ranges in Chikkamagaluru district, prompting an intensive multi-agency search operation, officials said on Wednesday.
The incident comes days after a woman from Kerala, Sharanya, who went missing in the Tadiandamol hills near Madikeri, was traced safely after four days.
The missing girl, identified as Srinanda from Palakkad, had travelled to Chikkamagaluru with her family as part of a tourist group. She went missing near Manikyadhara waterfalls in the Bababudangiri Hills on Tuesday evening.
According to officials, a group of around 40 tourists, including Srinanda’s family, was visiting scenic spots in the hill range. Srinanda got separated from the group around 5.20 pm and went missing near the waterfalls.
Her family realised she was missing only after climbing about 280 steps away from the site and immediately alerted the police and Forest Department personnel.
A 60-member rescue team comprising personnel from the police, Forest Department, Fire and Emergency Services, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched a search operation on Tuesday evening. Teams used thermal drone cameras and continued the search till late in the night, but could not trace her. The operation resumed early Wednesday morning, but there has been no breakthrough so far.
Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Dayama said search teams were combing the hill slopes using thermal drones. “Efforts are on to trace the girl at the earliest. We are also verifying the call records of her mobile phone,” he said. Family members and local residents are anxiously awaiting her safe return.
Police should help in search ops: Khandre
Meanwhile, Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B Khandre expressed concern over the incident and directed senior forest officials, including the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Chief Wildlife Warden, to assist the district administration and police in the search operation.
In a statement, the minister said experienced forest staff and advanced equipment, including thermal drones, had been deployed to aid the operation.
Though the trekking route does not fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Forest Department, the minister said the department is extending full support given the difficult terrain comprising dense vegetation, hills and valleys.