6 missing Hubballi youths traced

Officials suspect they lost their way in the forest while heading to Shirley Falls

The six youths are from Navanagar in Hubballi.

Six youths from Hubballi who had gone missing near Shirley Falls in Uttar Kannada district in Karnataka were traced on July 23 morning.

The youths are from Navanagar in Hubballi. They were reported missing on July 22 after their two-wheelers were found parked by the road near Shirley Falls.

Officials of the Forest Department and staff from Yellapur Police Station had begun searching for them. Officials suspected that they had lost their way in the forest while heading to Shirley Falls. Officially, entry to Shirley Falls has been banned at present due to heavy rains in the region.

According to sources, the youths were found in the farmland of Raghavendra Bhat. They had crossed a stream in a bid to reach the falls, but could not return as the narrow path was inundated. They spent the night in the forest. On July 23 morning, they reached Mr. Bhat's farmland.

The names of the youths are Asif Maqbulsab Dhalayat, Ahmed Syed Sheikh, Aftab Saddam Shirahatti, Mabusab Maqbulsab Shirahatti, Shanu Bijapuri and Imtiyaz Neersab Mullanavar.