Final rites for Sreenanda completed at Ivormadom; body brought home five days after tragedy

OTTAPALAM: The funeral rites for Sreenanda, a 15-year-old native of Kadampazhipuram, Ottapalam, were completed today at 1:45 PM at the Pampady Ivormadom crematorium in Thiruvilwamala. Her body was brought back to her family home earlier this morning, five days after she tragically went missing during a family trip to Karnataka.

The Search and Discovery Sreenanda, the daughter of Ramesh Gopalan and Rohini, disappeared last Tuesday evening near the Manikyadhara waterfalls viewpoint in Chikkamagaluru. She was part of a 40-member tour group that had arrived in Karnataka the previous Saturday.

Following an intensive three-day search operation involving the police, the forest department, and the disaster relief force, her body was located yesterday at approximately 12:00 PM. It was discovered at a depth of 1,500 feet in a gorge at Harshana Guppa, near Baba Budan Giri.

Since the onset of her disappearance, the family has raised concerns regarding suspicious circumstances surrounding the event. In response, a SOCO (Scene of Crime Officers) team conducted a thorough forensic inspection of the site where she was found. This inspection was carried out in the presence of Sreenanda's father to ensure transparency in the ongoing investigation.