A trekker named Sharanya survived three days stranded in a dense forest near Bengaluru with no food, only a bottle of water, enduring heavy rain and harsh conditions before making it back safely.
Kodagu: Sharanya went missing after getting separated from her group during a trek. She said a small mistake while climbing led to her losing track of the group.
When she could no longer see the people ahead, she attempted to find them by moving around the trail but was unable to locate anyone.
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Soon after, she lost network connectivity, which made communication impossible, leaving her stranded in the dense forest.
Struggle without food and limited resources
During her time in the forest, Sharanya had no food and only carried a bottle of water, a camera and a mobile phone. She attempted to stay on the move, searching for a way out until around 6:45 pm on the first day.
She also tried contacting a friend, but her phone battery dropped to just one per cent and eventually turned off, cutting off her last line of communication.
On the second day, Sharanya moved to a rocky area near a stream. She stayed there with the expectation that rescuers might spot her using a drone or aerial search operations.
Despite the difficult conditions, she remained in one location for a significant period to improve her chances of being located.
On the third day, heavy rain disrupted her plan to climb out of the forest early in the morning. She described the night as extremely cold, with continuous rainfall lasting about an hour, leaving her belongings completely wet and making it impossible to sleep.
The adverse weather conditions further complicated her efforts to find her way out.
Final attempt to climb out
On the fourth day, although the weather remained poor until midday, Sharanya decided to attempt the climb again. With her wet belongings and limited resources, she continued navigating through the forest, determined to exit the area despite the challenges.
Sharanya noted that she was not frightened despite the presence of wildlife, including elephants in the region. She also mentioned that she had not carried any markers or indicators to track the route, as it was intended to be a short trek.
After enduring three days in the forest under difficult conditions, Sharanya eventually returned safely. Her survival has been attributed to her persistence, awareness, and mental resilience during the ordeal.
Published: 05 Apr 2026, 08:53 pm IST
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