A 36-year-old IT professional from Kerala has gone missing during a solo trek to Tadiandamol in Karnataka’s Kodagu district, triggering an intensive search operation that has now entered its third day. Authorities are combing forested terrain, alternate trails, and remote stretches in a coordinated effort.

Sharanya G S, who had travelled from Kochi, checked into a homestay in Yavakapadi village near Napoklu before setting out on April 2. She completed the required formalities at the forest department checkpoint, where her identification and contact details were recorded.

With reports of active wild elephant movement in the region, forest officials advised her to join a group of around 10 trekkers. Although the group returned by evening, Sharanya did not, prompting an immediate search operation.

Police said Sharanya had informed the homestay staff that she had lost her way before her mobile phone went out of network coverage. According to the FIR filed at Napoklu police station by a forest officer, calls to her number returned a Malayalam message stating it was “out of coverage area.” The homestay staff then alerted authorities, who contacted the police.

Search operations resumed early Friday with nearly 60 personnel, including forest officials, police, and local volunteers. Five teams—three from the forest department and two comprising police and locals—are scanning dense forest patches, alternate routes, and interior sections of the peak. Drones and sniffer dogs have been deployed, but no breakthrough has been reported so far.

Tadiandamol is considered a moderately difficult trek. Carl Cariappa, a frequent trekker who has completed the route multiple times, said most people can finish it within two to three hours, usually in groups and without guides. “Trekkers typically start early, around 6:30 am, and complete the trail in three to four hours. For first-timers, it can take about six hours,” he noted.

Sharanya is believed to have begun her trek at around 8:15 am. However, when the group returned at approximately 4 pm, she was not with them.

Following the incident, her family has sent her brother to Kodagu to assist in the search. A formal missing person’s complaint was filed on April 3. Investigators are exploring all possibilities, including deviations from the main trail and potential monitoring gaps.