Left turn proved costly; Saranya's daring Tadiandamol trek leaves Malayalees on tenterhooks

KODAGU: Saranya, a Malayali woman who lost her way in the Tadiandamol hills while trekking, survived three nights alone in the forest, despite the rain, fog, and the frightening darkness. She rested for three nights on the banks of a stream where elephants descended from the mountains to drink and swim. Saranya, who quenched her thirst by drinking water from the forest stream, firmly believed that help would reach her and thus, did not waver even a little.

On the fourth day, that is Sunday afternoon, when the tribal community members who were part of the mission team found her, G.S. Saranya (36), a native of Nadapuram, Kozhikode, was resting under a tree in an open area. Saranya had no idea that her 'missing news' grabbed headlines in Kerala, and the whole state was on the edge, awaiting her safe return. Saranya was found in the forest area four kilometres away from the base camp.

When she was brought to the human-inhabited area, it was 6.30 pm. She immediately called her mother on the phone. She was taken to the nearby Kakkabe village and given primary care and then to Madikeri Medical College.

The search was carried out in multiple teams, involving more than 80 people, including the Karnataka Forest Department, police, anti-Naxal forces, tribal groups, and residents, using drones, dog squads, thermal scanners, and SIM tracking.

Saranya, a software engineer in Kochi, arrived alone on April 1 to climb the Tadiyandamol peak in Kodagu. She booked a room at a homestay in Yavakapadi village near Napoklu. She started the trek at 8.15 am on April 2 with a group of nine people from Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Due to the threat of wild elephants, solo trekking is prohibited.

On the return journey, after frolicking with a dog, Saranya was just behind the group when she decided to take a longer route with a left turn and join them at the other end. However, when she emerged on the other path, there was just silence, but no trace of human presence. She walked until 6.45 pm to find a route to the base camp. She tried to call her friend, but the phone went off. It started raining, and she had nowhere to take shelter.

Saranya had only a 500 ml water bottle in her hand. She was sure that a search would be conducted using a drone. So she stood in an open area visible to the drone and barely slept during all the nights.