A Kerala village heaves sigh of relief after three women missing in dense forest rescued after 15 hours of search

One of the three women who had gone missing inside a forest in Ernakulam district of Kerala being brought back to safety on November 29, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

After over 15 hours of frenetic search during which an entire village was on tenterhooks, the three women who had gone missing in a dense forest at Attikalam in Anakkayam division of Kuttampuzha panchayat in Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district of Kerala were tracked down almost 6 km deep inside the forest around 6.30 a.m. on Friday (november 29, 2024).

The women – identified as Parukutty, 64, Darly, 56, and Maya 46 – went in search of Maya’s cow that had done missing while grazing on Thursday (November 28) afternoon. However, the cow found it way back on its own by Thursday evening. Though quite familiar with the forest, the three reportedly lost their way in the darkness and in their anxiety to escape elephants they reportedly came across while returning home.

A protracted search by multiple squads of forest, police and fire and rescue services personnel, civil defence volunteers and local people was launched in the evening and continued through the night.

A forest team of nearly 50 persons led by Malayattoor Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kurra Srinivas and Kuttampuzha range officer R. Sanjeev Kumar, and assisted by personnel from Idamalayar and Thundathil forest range offices, camped in the area since 5.30 p.m. on Thursday. A 10-member team from the fire and rescue services led by Kothamangalam fire station officer K.K. Benoy and a 15-member team from the Kuttampuzha police station led by Station House Officer P.A. Faisal also participated in the overnight search.

“One of the three women had carried a mobile phone and made a call last on Thursday around 4 p.m. It was then that people outside came to know that they had to flee elephants and that in the process lost their way. Thereafter, they could not be reached,” said Kandhi Vellakayyan, Kuttampuzha panchayat president.

Condition stable

Mr. Srinivas announced to the media around 7 a.m. on Friday that a search squad had found the missing women on a rock some 6 km deep inside the forest, bringing cheers to the anxious people who had been waiting for some good news about their dear ones. Apart from the exhaustion of having spend a sleepless night without food and water amid the fear of elephants whose presence, they claimed, could be felt in the vicinity through the night, their condition was found to be stable and fit enough to walk back to the safety of their home.

Ambulances and medical teams had been kept on standby. All three of them were taken to the Kuttampuzha primary health centre for a check-up, after which they left for their homes where an emotional reunion with their families, neighbours, friends and relatives awaited them.

“It was a collective effort by government agencies, local people and the media. We had made all arrangements for the long haul. An entire village is now happy,” said Antony John, Kothamangalam MLA.