Chikkamagaluru (Karnataka), April 10 (NationPress) - In a heartbreaking incident, 14-year-old Srinanda from Kerala was discovered deceased in a mountain gorge after going missing while trekking with her family in the picturesque Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka on Friday.

Search teams, after three days of extensive efforts, located her remains approximately 2,000 feet below the area where she vanished.

The local police reported that Srinanda, hailing from Palakkad in Kerala, had gone missing in the Chandradrona mountain range. She was last accounted for around 6 p.m. on April 7 while trekking with a group of 40 individuals. The last sighting was in the Manikyadhara region of the mountains. Despite her parents' desperate attempts to find her, they were unable to make any progress.

The search operation was a collaborative effort involving the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, Fire and Emergency Services, and officials from the Forest Department. Given the treacherous terrain, drones and thermal imaging technology were deployed.

Investigators are exploring various possibilities regarding her disappearance, including whether she fell from the mountain or if other factors contributed to the incident.

In a statement regarding the concerning case, Home Minister G. Parameshwara mentioned that prior to the body’s recovery, he had gathered initial details. “There are theories suggesting the girl was kidnapped, while others imply she may have eloped with someone. These speculations are circulating, but the truth will only be revealed once she is located,” he noted.

Initial reports indicate that the victim and her family had traveled to Karnataka for a vacation. They had previously visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi before arriving in Chikkamagaluru around 3 p.m. on April 7. Following their arrival, they proceeded in private vehicles to the Inam Dattatreya Bababudangiri shrine and the Manikyadhara mountains, where she went missing near a waterfall.

Despite the immediate launch of the search operation employing advanced equipment like thermal cameras and drones, no significant leads were uncovered initially, raising further concerns. Authorities were preparing to conduct a thorough combing of the entire mountain range. A police unit from Kerala also arrived to assist in the investigation.

Law enforcement has confiscated the mobile devices of the victim’s parents and is looking into every aspect of the case. All other tourists from Kerala have since returned home, while a team from Chikkamagaluru has traveled to Kerala. Ongoing investigations are in progress.

More information is awaited.

It is worth noting that a trekker from Kerala, named Sharanya, was recently rescued after being lost in the Madikeri Forest for several days. She had gone missing from the Tadiyandamol forest in Madikeri district.