Karnataka Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister Ishwar Khandre on Thursday ordered preparation of comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOP) for trekking safety, following a series of incidents involving missing visitors in forest areas of the state. The directive to the chief wildlife warden comes as search operations continue for a 15-year-old girl from Kerala who went missing in Chandrarona Hills in Chikkamagaluru district.
The minister’s office said in a statement that the proposed framework aims to establish uniform safety measures and could serve as a model for similar initiatives across the country. These instructions were prompted not only by the ongoing search in Chikkamagaluru, but also by the recent case in which another traveler from Kerala was found after going missing for four days in Kodagu.
Officials have been asked to examine the use of technology to improve monitoring and response during flights. “Among the measures under consideration is the development of a mobile application that can be temporarily installed on trekkers’ phones, enabling authorities to track their movement during the duration of the trek. This concept is based on existing systems like the forest department’s ‘e-Gastu’ app and the ‘MStripes’ platform used in tiger reserves. The minister has also directed that group insurance for trekkers be explored as part of the safety protocol,” an official said.
The proposed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is expected to place responsibility on designated nature guides, who will be required to carry walkie-talkies and supervise the coordination and safety of trekking groups. The guidelines aim to address delays in identifying and responding to cases of individuals becoming separated from their groups in remote areas.
The urgency of these measures is highlighted by the disappearance of the teenager, Nandana, a resident of Palakkad in Kerala. She traveled to Chikkamagaluru with her family and joined a trek in Chanderrona Hills as part of a group of about 40 of her relatives. According to officials, she became separated during the trek and her absence was only noticed after the group reached the summit.
Later, her uncle, Sasikumar, filed a complaint with the rural police in Chikkamagaluru. The complaint stated that the family was visiting Bababudangiri on April 7 when the girl went missing near Manikyadahara. He described her as five feet tall, with a wheatish complexion, wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, and who could speak Malayalam and English. Family members, along with local residents, conducted a preliminary search in the surrounding area but were unable to locate her.
Searches have continued since then without achieving any progress.
Teams from the local police, forest department and government disaster response force are combing the area, focusing on Manikiyadhara and neighboring areas. The terrain, characterized by steep slopes and dense vegetation, complicated efforts, while persistent fog reduced search teams’ visibility.
Investigators are examining multiple possibilities, including the possibility that the girl inadvertently strayed from the group and strayed from the flight path. Authorities are also examining whether she left the area with other visitors, although there is no evidence to confirm this scenario yet. A team of police personnel from Kerala traveled to Chikkamagaluru to coordinate with local officials and collect details related to the case.
The direction of the investigation changed after the girl’s mother, Rohini, raised concerns that her daughter’s disappearance may not have been accidental. “My daughter could not have fallen anywhere by accident. Someone hatched a conspiracy and kidnapped her. They either gave her some drugs or took her by force when she was alone,” she said.
Her statement prompted the police to expand the scope of the investigation. In addition to searches in ravines and forest trails, officers are reviewing CCTV footage from the tourist area, collecting data on vehicles on site on the day of the incident and identifying individuals who may require further scrutiny.
Despite several days of searching, no physical evidence was found, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the case. Officials said that if the girl had fallen into a ravine, some traces might have been expected by now, though they have not ruled out any possibility.
The family remained in Chikkamagaluru as the search continued.
