Forest dept rescues trekkers who lost their way home after visiting waterfall

BELAGAVI: Nine students of a college in Belagavi, who had gone missing in the forest while trekking have been rescued by the personnel of the Forest Department of Karnataka and Goa in a joint operation.

The nine students, who went trekking, had gone through the Kanakumbi forest area to see the Jalavane waterfalls on the Karnataka-Goa border. The youths went from Parwada village by bike for 3 km and then went to Jalavane Falls by walk and spent some time. While returned on Friday evening, they lost their way in the dense forest. Immediately, the youths called some friends and conveyed the information that they had missed the route in the forest.

After this, Karnataka and Goa Forest Department personnel conducted a joint operation throughout the night. A team of 30 personnel combed the forests from 8 pm on Friday to 5 am on Saturday, traced the students and brought them out of the forest safely. The search was conducted under the guidance of Khanapur ACF Santosh Chauhan.

The operation was led by Kanakumbi RFO Shivakumar, Bhimgad RFO Rakesh, Khanapur RFO Nagaraj, DRFO Vinayak Patil, Goa Mahadayi Wildlife DFO Anand. The Goa Forest Department has registered a complaint against all nine students for illegal entry into the forest.