Chikkamagaluru, 8 April

A minor girl from Kerala has gone missing during a trekking trip in the Chandradrona hill ranges of Chikkamagaluru district on the evening of 7 March, police said.

The girl Srinanda, 16, is a resident of Palakkad district in Kerala.

Additional Superintendent of police Jayakumar said the grade 10 student was a part of a group of around 40 tourists who had travelled from Kerala to the State. She had gone missing at the Manikyadhara waterfalls in Chikkamagaluru taluk.

"The incident occurred around 6.30pm while the group was exploring scenic spots in the Chandradrona hills. The girl went missing under unclear circumstances, triggering concern among her family members and the trekking team,” Jayakumar said.

A massive search operation is underway to trace the girl.

Over 30 police personnel and officials from the State Forest Department and fire services had launched a late-night search.

"However, the operation yielded no clues until midnight due to dense fog, difficult terrain and poor visibility, forcing the team to temporarily suspend the search," Jayakumar added.

The search resumed on Wednesday morning with renewed efforts. Forest officials have deployed drones to locate the whereabouts of the teenager. Teams have been formed to comb through possible routes she may have taken from the point where she was last seen.

Local villagers and trekkers familiar with the hidden trails of the hill ranges have also joined in to assist the authorities in navigating the challenging terrain.

The development comes close on the heels of another recent incident in neighbouring Kodagu district, where a trekker, Sharanya, also from Kerala, had gone missing.

She was traced after the police and Forest department officials launched a joint search operation in the area. PTI