Case registered against those who trespassed in Bonacaud forest; group of four luckily escaped from wild animals

VITHURA: Peppara Wildlife Warden Suresh Babu informed that a case has been registered against a group of four members from Karimadom Colony in Thiruvananthapuram for trespassing in the Bonacaud forest region. The group of four, who got stuck in Bonacaud forest at night and day after losing their way, narrowly escaped from the attack of wild animals. The group ended up on a cliff in the inner forest where elephants, bison, tigers and bears roam at night. They said that although elephants and buffaloes passed by, they did not attack them. The children were terrified to see the wild animals. Karimadom native Sindhu, her children Dilshad, and Soumya and Sindhu's friend Faviola were trapped in the forest. Sindhu is two months pregnant

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On Monday afternoon, the four had sought permission at the check post in Kanithadam to visit the Vazhvanthol waterfall near Chathancode in Vithura. However, they did not get permission as it was late. The group then took a bus from here and reached Bonacaud. They entered the forest illegally and wandered around the Bonacaud forest to see the waterfall. They did not call the police or the forest guards on the first day, fearing that they would be sued for entering the forest without permission. Moreover, there was no network coverage in the region. The group ran out of food during the night. They then quelled their hunger by drinking water from the stream.

The next morning, although they tried their best to escape from the forest, they got lost in the forest. In the meantime, they tried to contact the police several times, but to no avail. In the evening, while roaming through the forest, the network connection became available, and the group dialled the police helpline number. A team comprising Vithura SI S Vinodkumar, Fireman KS Hari of Vithura Fire and Rescue Station, Peppara Section Forest Officer Shibu, Beat Forest Officers Nisha, Shaji and Watcher Kamalasanan searched for several hours and found the group in the inner forest about ten kilometres away from Bonacaud. Then they were taken to the Chathancode check post. After giving food and drinking water, the group members were admitted to Vitura Govt Taluk Hospital. Peppara Forest Range Officer Salin Jose said that the accused will be produced in the Nedumangad forest court.