Intensive Search Operation Underway for Missing Kerala Teenager in Karnataka's Chandradrona Hills
Search efforts for a 16-year-old girl from Kerala, who went missing in the Chandradrona Hills of Chikkamagaluru district, continued unabated on Friday, as confirmed by local officials. The girl, identified as Srinandhana from Palakkad, had traveled to Karnataka with her family as part of a 40-member group. She was reported missing on Tuesday evening during a visit to a popular tourist spot in the hills.
Multi-Agency Rescue Teams Deploy Advanced Technology
Police, along with teams from the forest department, fire and emergency services, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been meticulously combing the area since Tuesday night. Despite extensive efforts spanning over 48 hours, she had not been traced, officials stated. Thermal drone cameras have been deployed to aid the search, with teams focusing on dense and sensitive patches of the forested terrain.
An officer involved in the operation remarked, "Rescue teams have spread out all over the region. All sensitive areas are being tracked to ensure no stone is left unturned."
Details of the Disappearance and Immediate Response
According to Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Dayama, the girl had gone missing shortly after arriving at the site with her parents. He elaborated, "Srinandhana, a 16-year-old girl from Palakkad, Kerala, arrived in Chikkamagaluru with her parents. At around 5:30 pm, they visited the popular Manikyadhara Falls, where her parents realized she was missing. The matter was promptly reported to the Peta Police Outpost."
By approximately 8–9 am the following day, police and forest officials launched a comprehensive search operation, utilizing drone cameras to scan the area. The SDRF team also joined the efforts, with more than 60 personnel from the police department actively involved. The search remains ongoing as of the latest updates.
Minister Directs Development of Trekking Safety Protocol
In response to this incident and other recent cases, Karnataka Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre has directed officials to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) for trekking safety. The instruction, issued to the chief wildlife warden, comes in the wake of recent events, including the disappearance of a woman from Kerala in the dense Tadiandamol forest and the ongoing search for the missing teenager in Chandradrona Hills, as stated by the minister’s office.
This move aims to enhance safety measures and prevent similar occurrences in the future, highlighting the government's proactive approach to public safety in forested and tourist areas.
