IT Professional Goes Missing During Trek to Kodagu's Highest Peak
Forest and police personnel in Madikeri faced a challenging situation on Saturday as they failed to locate Sharanya, a 36-year-old IT professional from Kozhikode, who vanished during a trek to Tadiandamol, the highest peak in Kodagu. The search operations, which involved multiple agencies and resources, have been hampered by adverse weather conditions and technical difficulties.
Extensive Search Efforts Deployed
Authorities have pulled out all stops in the attempt to find Sharanya, deploying drones, dog squads, and enlisting the help of local residents. Despite these efforts, the search has proven unsuccessful so far. Police revealed that Sharanya's family was unaware of her travel plans to Kodagu, adding a layer of concern to the situation.
Sharanya, a native of Nadapuram and employed with an IT firm in Kochi, had checked into a homestay near Kakkabe on Thursday. Her brother Shyam, who arrived on Saturday with relatives, described her as physically fit and an experienced trekker, which makes her disappearance all the more puzzling.
Challenges Hindering the Search
The search operation has faced significant obstacles, primarily due to rain and dense fog in the region. Kodagu superintendent of police Bindu Mani confirmed that trained personnel from the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) have been deployed to assist in the efforts. Additionally, three additional teams posted at the Karnataka-Kerala border have been assigned to the search, as per DCF (Madikeri) Abhishek.
Fluctuating mobile networks in the area have complicated the search, making it difficult to accurately trace Sharanya's last known location. At one point, signals suggested she might be in Iritty, Kerala, but officials caution that this information could be unreliable. DCF Abhishek explained that while Tadiandamol peak has habitation on one side, the other side of Pattighat Reserve Forest is a dense forest where search teams are focusing their efforts.
Safety Measures and Ongoing Operations
Sharanya had booked her trek slot online as a solo trekker. However, forest authorities, concerned about safety in an area known for wild elephants, sent her with other tourists. A missing person case has been registered at the Napoklu police station, and the search continues with heightened urgency.
The combination of harsh weather, difficult terrain, and poor communication networks has turned this into a complex operation. Authorities remain hopeful but emphasize the challenges they face in locating the missing IT professional in the vast and rugged landscape of Kodagu.
