With 500 ml Water And A Dying Phone, Kerala Woman Survived Four Days Alone In Kodagu Forest

A line from poet Rainer Maria Rilke, "Just keep going... no feeling is final", seems fitting when you hear what happened to a Kerala woman who spent four days alone in the dense forests of Karnataka's Kodagu district after losing her way during a trek in the Tadiandamol hills.

Despite being stranded without communication, facing rain, cold nights and the threat of wildlife, 36-year-old GS Sharanya stayed calm and held on until rescuers finally reached her.

Trek Turns Into Four-Day Survival Ordeal

Sharanya, a tech professional from Kerala, had travelled alone and reached Kodagu on Thursday. She was staying at a homestay in Kakkabbe village, located around 10 km from Napoklu, before setting out on the trek on April 2 with a group.

During the descent from Tadiandamol, she got separated from the others and was eventually left behind. What began as an attempt to catch up with the group soon turned into a desperate struggle to find her way out of the thick forest.

She had only 500 ml of water left with her and a mobile phone that was about to die. Even in that situation, she kept moving, hoping to either find the group or make her way back to the homestay.

Before her phone battery completely drained, she managed to contact a friend and also inform the homestay where she was staying. That brief communication proved crucial, as it alerted others that she was missing and triggered a major search effort.

Her Last Calls Before Phone Battery Died

Recalling the moment she realised she was completely lost, Sharanya described how she kept walking downhill, convinced that she would eventually come across someone.

"I took a left turn to look for people, but lost my way as the forest was dense. Till around 6:45 pm, I kept walking downhill, thinking I would eventually meet someone, but I didn't. So I stayed on the hill. I called my friend Yadhu and asked him to inform others. While I was trying to text the helpline number, my phone switched off. The next morning, my leg was sore, so I didn't walk," she said.

After spending the first night in the forest, she chose not to move much the following morning because of pain in her leg. But once she regained some strength, she resumed walking, hoping rescuers or locals might see her.

Rain, Cold Nights And Wildlife Threat Could Not Break Her

Sharanya's time in the forest was made even harder by the weather. The region saw intermittent heavy rain, and the forest area is believed to be frequented by elephants. Yet she said she never felt overwhelmed by fear.

"I did not feel scared. I don't know why," she said.

On the second day, she tried a different survival strategy. Instead of continuing blindly through the forest, she climbed to a higher point, hoping that being on elevated ground would improve visibility and increase the chances of being spotted, especially if drones were being used in the search.

By the third day, she wanted to keep moving, but the rain became relentless. Soaked and shivering, she was forced to stay put.

"I was drenched, and it was very cold at night, so I couldn't sleep. Today (Sunday), I waited till around noon as I was still wet from the rain," she said.

The cold nights and wet conditions made rest nearly impossible, but she continued to think clearly and looked for a safer place to wait.

Massive Search Operation Ends In Rescue

Eventually, Sharanya took shelter beside a rock near a stream. That decision turned out to be a turning point in her survival. The location gave her access to water and also made her easier to spot compared to being hidden deep inside the thick vegetation.

It was at this spot that local residents and rescue personnel finally located her after four days in the forest.

Her rescue came after a large, continuous search operation mounted by multiple agencies. As soon as she was reported missing, authorities launched an intensive effort involving nine teams. The operation included forest department personnel, members of the Anti-Naxal Squad and local tribal communities, all working round the clock to trace her in the difficult terrain.

After four days of uncertainty in one of Kodagu's most challenging forest stretches, Sharanya was found alive, safe and smiling, her resilience standing out as much as the rescue itself.