A 14-year-old girl named Sreenanda from Kerala was found dead on April 10 after being missing for three days near the scenic Manikyadhara Falls in the Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka. Her body was discovered deep within a gorge believed to be almost 2,000 feet below, marking a tragic end to a multi-agency search.
Sreenanda was traveling with a group of about 40 tourists who had left Kerala and visited Chikkamagaluru on April 7. The group had planned visits to well-known religious and tourist sites in the region, such as the renowned Inam Dattatreya Peetha and the scenic Manikyadhara Falls, located in the Chandradrona hill ranges.
The teenager reportedly disappeared suddenly when the group arrived at the falls. Her disappearance caused panic among the group members, who alerted local authorities. Due to the rugged terrain and vast forests on the Chandradrona hills, the search was very challenging.
Various agencies, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire and emergency services, local police, and Anti-Naxal Force (ANF), were deployed in all directions to search for the girl. The entire search team conducted a sophisticated search using drones and thermal imaging cameras to examine the harsh terrain.
Despite the ongoing investigation for three days, search teams found Sreenanda's body at the bottom of a deep gorge near the falls on April 10. The location of the body suggests she may have slipped and fallen from a steep height, though authorities have not ruled out other possibilities.
Officials have stated that a thorough investigation is still underway to determine the exact cause of the incident. Whether this was an accident due to slippery terrain or if other factors were involved is a matter that further investigation and post-mortem examinations will clarify.
The disaster has devastated the victim's family. Her parents and relatives, who had been anxiously waiting for news, broke down when they received the tragic news. Their grief highlights the emotional toll of such crises on families and communities. It also serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of hiking and camping in forested and hilly tourist areas during group trips.
As Manikyadhara Falls is a very popular destination for its natural beauty and spiritual significance, it should be visited with caution as it lies on steep cliffs and the weather can be very unpredictable. Local authorities have warned that tourists should strictly observe safety rules and remain in designated zones when visiting such locations. The investigation is ongoing, with the aim of understanding the root causes of this tragedy and taking steps to prevent future tragedies from occurring.
