A 36-year-old IT professional, GS Sharanya, was traced after more than 72 hours as she lost her way while descending Tadiandamol, the highest peak in Kodagu district. What is surprising is that GS Sharanya survived on just a 500 ml bottle of water, no mobile network, and still managed to spend four days alone in the dense forests of Karnataka's Kodagu district, according to a TOI report.
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Sharanya, an IT professional from Kozhikode, had gone missing on April 2 after she got separated from her trekking group while descending Tadiandamol. What followed was a four-day ordeal through dense forests, unpredictable weather, and unfamiliar terrain, even as a multi-agency search operation intensified to find her.
“I had lost my way. I could not see anyone when I climbed down. I came to a left-side path but could not find anyone." With just a 500 ml bottle of water and no mobile connectivity, she said she tried contacting a colleague, before her phone ran out of charge.
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After she was rescued on Sunday, she recalled her experience and said she “lost her way somehow” while climbing down and could not trace her group. With her phone battery running out and no network connectivity, she was left completely cut off.
“I walked till evening on the first day, but after that I couldn’t go further because of the dense forest. I stayed near a stream,” she said. In the days that followed, she kept moving intermittently, hoping to find a trail or human presence in the dense forests.
“I went without sleep and food for three days. I tried contacting the forest helpline and colleagues from my office. But there was no network. I walked till about 6.45pm Thursday. I found a stream and decided to rest there. On Friday, the sky was visible. I was looking for drones. Saturday, I got drenched in heavy rainfall and it was cold,” Sharanya said late Sunday.
In the days that followed, she kept moving in the hope of finding help. “In the days that followed, I kept walking expecting to meet someone,” she added.
Despite being alone in a forest area believed to be frequented by elephants and amid intermittent heavy rain, the woman said fear never overtook her. “I did not feel scared. I don't know why,” she said with a confident smile.
Although she initially planned to climb to a higher point on the third day, rain disrupted her plans, and she had to wait until noon on Sunday for her clothes to dry. She added that she kept calling out at intervals, hoping someone would hear her. Eventually, local residents who were part of the search team heard her voice and managed to trace her location.
After more than 72 hours of searching, Sharanya was finally located on Sunday afternoon in a remote forest patch by members of a tribal community. Officials said the area was one “where nobody usually goes,” highlighting the challenges faced during the operation. She was found conscious and stable, immediately escorted out, and later taken for medical evaluation. Authorities confirmed that she was healthy and had not sustained any major injuries.
ALSO READ: Will it rain in Kolkata today?
Sharanya, an IT professional from Kozhikode, had gone missing on April 2 after she got separated from her trekking group while descending Tadiandamol. What followed was a four-day ordeal through dense forests, unpredictable weather, and unfamiliar terrain, even as a multi-agency search operation intensified to find her.
“I had lost my way. I could not see anyone when I climbed down. I came to a left-side path but could not find anyone." With just a 500 ml bottle of water and no mobile connectivity, she said she tried contacting a colleague, before her phone ran out of charge.
ALSO READ: KSEAB 2nd PSU Result 2026 Date and Time
No food, sleep for 3 days
After four days of operation, GS Sharanya was found near the shack around 4pm Sunday by Kudiya tribals who were part of nine teams comprising foresters, local cops and commandos from an Anti-Naxalite Force. They scoured the Western Ghats patch using sophisticated equipment, including thermal drone cameras.After she was rescued on Sunday, she recalled her experience and said she “lost her way somehow” while climbing down and could not trace her group. With her phone battery running out and no network connectivity, she was left completely cut off.
“I walked till evening on the first day, but after that I couldn’t go further because of the dense forest. I stayed near a stream,” she said. In the days that followed, she kept moving intermittently, hoping to find a trail or human presence in the dense forests.
“I went without sleep and food for three days. I tried contacting the forest helpline and colleagues from my office. But there was no network. I walked till about 6.45pm Thursday. I found a stream and decided to rest there. On Friday, the sky was visible. I was looking for drones. Saturday, I got drenched in heavy rainfall and it was cold,” Sharanya said late Sunday.
In the days that followed, she kept moving in the hope of finding help. “In the days that followed, I kept walking expecting to meet someone,” she added.
Despite being alone in a forest area believed to be frequented by elephants and amid intermittent heavy rain, the woman said fear never overtook her. “I did not feel scared. I don't know why,” she said with a confident smile.
Rescue after over 72 hours
Sharanya said she reached a rocky stream area and stayed there overnight due to pain in her leg, avoiding much movement on the first day. On the second day, she remained in an open spot with better visibility, hoping to be spotted during drone searches.Although she initially planned to climb to a higher point on the third day, rain disrupted her plans, and she had to wait until noon on Sunday for her clothes to dry. She added that she kept calling out at intervals, hoping someone would hear her. Eventually, local residents who were part of the search team heard her voice and managed to trace her location.
After more than 72 hours of searching, Sharanya was finally located on Sunday afternoon in a remote forest patch by members of a tribal community. Officials said the area was one “where nobody usually goes,” highlighting the challenges faced during the operation. She was found conscious and stable, immediately escorted out, and later taken for medical evaluation. Authorities confirmed that she was healthy and had not sustained any major injuries.
