Daijiworld Media Network – Chikkamagaluru

Chikkamagaluru, Apr 8: Close on the heels of the safe rescue of a Kerala trekker in Kodagu, another missing case has been reported in the district. A 14-year-old girl from Kerala, who was on a trip to the famous Mullayanagiri tourist spot, has gone missing since April 7 evening.

The missing girl has been identified as Nandana, a resident of Palakkad, Kerala. She had arrived in the district as part of a 40-member tour group along with her parents.

Separated from the group

The incident occurred around 6 pm near the Manikhyadhara area in the Chandradrona hill range. Nandana reportedly got separated from the group while they were exploring the hills near the Manikhyadhara falls. Initially, the family and group members assumed she was nearby, but as time passed and she failed to return, they grew anxious.

Local residents and other tourists conducted an initial search until 8 pm on Tuesday. However, the operation was severely hampered by thick fog, darkness, and the challenging terrain characterized by steep slopes and dense grasslands.

Massive search operation launched

Following a formal report to the authorities, teams from the police and forest departments launched an overnight search operation. District Superintendent of Police (SP) Jithendra Kumar Dayama stated that thermal drones were deployed to scan the hills until 4:30 am on Wednesday, but no traces of the girl were found.

"The search operation resumed on Wednesday morning with the assistance of the disaster management team. We are putting in all efforts to locate the girl despite the difficult weather conditions and visibility issues," the SP added.

The family of the teenager remains at the spot, awaiting news of her safety.