Missing trekkers find their way out of forest

A team of seven school girls, their parents and teacher from Goa, who went trekking in Chorla Ghat on the Karnataka -Goa and lost their way, reached a village on the edges of the forest in Khanapur, Belagavi district, on Tuesday morning.

It was a picnic planned by Rev. Brother M.M. Pinto (32) from Ribander Church. The girls who were part of the trip were Debra Gonsalves (13), Syeire Fernandes (12), Pearl Fernandes (12) and Swetlana Gomes (12) from Ribander, and Sansha Sampayo (11), Saina Dsouza (12) and Siyana Dsouza from Porvorim. Parents of three girls accompanied them.

The trekkers had entered the forest range from the Mhadei Research Centre on Monday post noon and soon lost their way due to rain and heavy canopy. Their families were worried as they were unable to contact them.

The trekkers are all out of danger. Some of them, who were suffering from acidity, were given first aid, said Krishna Udupudi, Chief Conservator of Forests.

A team of forest and police officials were rushed to the Khanapur forest range as soon as we heard about the incident, said Mahesh Kumar Shambhu, Conservator of Forests, Goa.

Basavaraj Patil, Deputy Conservator of Forests, visited the spot and spoke to the trekkers. From Goa, a team of officers including Assistant Conservator Paresh Parab, Girish Bailudkar, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramesh Gaonkar and Circle Inspector M. Vaigankar were present.