BELAGAVI
Forest officials have warned youngsters to avoid adventurous trips in forests after one group lost their way in the dense forests between Goa and Khanapur.
About nine students had sneaked into the forest area near Kankumbi bordering Goa on Friday. While trekking, they lost the route and got lost in the thick jungle. They had to roam throughout the night, braving the cold and risking the wildlife threat.
However, the Kankumbi range forest officers, together with their Goan counterparts, managed to rescue the youth in the wee hours on Saturday.
A team led by Assistant Conservator of Forests Santosh Chavan started the search operation from Parwad forest at about 10 pm after the friends of the trekkers informed the officials of the forest department.
Their Goan counterparts also launched the search operations from the other side. After the students were traced with the help of the mobile phone of one of the students, they were found sitting tired on the rocks in the forest bordering Goa.
They were brought to the Kankumbi Range Forest Officer’s office and were provided with first aid. Later, a trespassing case was registered by Goa Forest Department.
Officials and staff of the forest department of both the states, including Kankumbi Range Forest Officer (RFO) Shivakumar, Bhimgad RFO Rakesh Arjunwad, Khanapur RFO Nagaraja Balehosur, Deputy RFO Vinayak Patil, Goa DFO Anand, and others participated in the search operation.
Meanwhile, forest officials in Karnataka have warned students and trekkers not to venture out in the dense forests bordering Khanapur and Goa as it is dangerous.
“Apart from seeking official permission to trek in the forests, a guide from the Forest Department is also required as it is difficult for those trekking to get the directions,” a senior forest official warned.
