Just when the region was breathing a sigh of relief after the safe return of Sharanya, who had gone missing during a trek in Kodagu, a similar and horrifying incident has emerged from the heart of the Chandradrona mountain range. A 14-year-old girl identified as Sri Nanda has been reported missing since Tuesday evening, leading to a massive multi-agency search operation in the rugged terrain of Chikkamagaluru.
The Incident: A Family Trip Turned Nightmare
Sri Nanda, a resident of Palakkad, Kerala, was on her way with a large group of friends to the beautiful hills of Chikkamagaluru. The group of almost 40 members her parents and relatives had been to the Manikya Dhara falls, a tourist and pilgrimage centre in the Baba Budangiri hills.
The young girl was last seen around 6:00 PM on Tuesday, her family said. But in the fading light and the crowd and the mist, she just disappeared. When the family found out she wasn't in the group, an alarm was raised and local tourists were out at once, looking for the girl. But as night descended on the slopes, there was no trace of the teenager.
Massive Search Operation Underway
As long as the situation was very dangerous and with wildlife and steep cliffs in the area, authorities launched a joint rescue mission. Fire and emergency services, forest department, and Karnataka police combed through the dense undergrowth and rocky outcrops through the night.
The search entered its second day on Wednesday with renewed intensity:
- Drone surveillance: The authorities are using high-tech drones to go through the sprawling grasslands and steep valleys that are otherwise inaccessible to ground crews.
- Challenging terrain: The Chandradrona range is characterized by sharp slopes, deep gorges, and thick shola forests, so the rescue teams have to work physically.
- Local support: Local villagers and trekkers who know the well-hidden paths of the mountain range have come forward to assist the official agencies in search of them.
Rising Concerns And Police Investigation
This incident happened in the jurisdiction of the Chikkamagaluru Rural Police Station. While rescue teams are on top of the list, there are also angles for her disappearance. The proximity of this incident to the recent "Sharanya missing case" in Kodagu raised the concerns of tourists in the high-altitude region of the Western Ghats.
The anxiety of the 40-member group of Kerala tourists is mounting with the passing of the hours. Police officials are advising people not to spread rumors and now it is all about finding Sri Nanda before the weather conditions in the hills get too bad. The local administration has advised tourists to be extremely careful and follow the designated paths for high-risk places like Manikya Dhara and the Chandradrona peaks.
