Kerala Trekker's Four-Day Forest Ordeal Ends in Rescue, Renewed Passion for Adventure
In an inspiring tale of resilience and calm under pressure, G S Sharanya, a 36-year-old IT professional from Nadapuram, Kerala, has emerged from a harrowing four-day experience lost in the dense forests near Tadiandamol in Karnataka's Kodagu district. Remarkably, instead of deterring her, the ordeal has only strengthened her passion for trekking, with plans already underway for her next adventure to Tawang, pending leave approval.
A Trek Turned Test of Survival
The incident began on April 2 when Sharanya became separated from her trekking group while descending from the peak of Tadiandamol. Attempting to retrace her steps, she quickly lost her way in the thick wilderness. A brief moment of mobile signal allowed her to alert her homestay, but connectivity vanished soon after, and her phone battery died, leaving her completely isolated without food and with only a 500 ml water bottle.
"I wasn't scared," Sharanya emphasized, reflecting on the experience from her home. "The forest felt alive rather than threatening. At night, there were cicadas and fireflies, and it was so bright it felt like a full moon. It was a different experience."
Strategic Survival and Eventual Rescue
Facing the challenges head-on, Sharanya demonstrated remarkable presence of mind:
- First Night: She walked through the forest until evening, stopping due to leg pain, and spent the night near a rocky stream. With no food after finishing a banana at the peak, she survived by drinking from the stream, consuming approximately three liters of water daily.
- Second Day: To increase her chances of being spotted, she stayed in an open patch, anticipating search teams using drones.
- Third Day: Heavy rain forced her to abandon plans to climb higher for better visibility.
- Fourth Day: With clouds gathering again, she attempted to move uphill, an effort that ultimately led to her rescue.
Her disappearance had triggered a large-scale search operation involving:
- Forest officials and police personnel
- Anti-Naxal Squad members
- Local tribal communities
- Advanced technology including drones and thermal imaging
After more than 72 hours, Sharanya was found in a remote patch of forest. "I heard voices and responded, but they couldn't see me. So I shook a tree to signal my location," she said, referring to the local tribal searchers who were instrumental in her rescue. She was conscious, stable, and had not suffered any major injuries.
Nature's Presence and Personal Resolve
Despite being in a region known for wildlife, including elephants whose signs she noticed, Sharanya encountered only monkeys during her four-day ordeal. Her calm demeanor and strategic thinking were key to her survival.
Now safely back home, Sharanya is already looking ahead with determination. "The experience has not shaken my passion for trekking — if anything, it has strengthened it," she declared, proving that getting lost in the forest will not mean giving up on her love for nature and adventure.
