A 36-year-old Kerala techie, G.S. Sharanya, was rescued on Sunday evening after going missing during a trek in the Kodagu hills of Karnataka on April 2.
The extensive search operation, which involved nine teams and additional personnel, drone surveillance, and local support, concluded with Sharanya being spotted near a rock by a stream in the Pattighat Reserve Forest.
Rescuers described Sharanya as composed after being found, and she later explained the sequence of events that led to her being stranded, stating she hadn't come across any wild animals or been scared.
Sharanya had initially planned a solo trek but joined a guided group of 15 trekkers for the climb to Tadiyandamol on Thursday. During the descent, she became separated from the group and lost her way in the dense forest.
She contacted a friend and the homestay owner to inform them that she had lost her way before her phone battery died. Authorities were alerted soon after, triggering a coordinated search effort.
Sharanya said she got separated from the group and took a left turn to look for people but lost her way as the forest was dense. She stayed on the hill, called her friend Yadhu, and asked him to inform others before her phone switched off.
