Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (GA)
Puttur, Feb 21: The tension and turmoil experienced by family members of 3 trekkers of Bangalore origin who had gone missing some 9 months ago has now given way to grief as the skeletons of the all the three have been traced in the dense forests of Western Ghats on Monday February 19 and Tuesday February 20.
While the skeleton of the Vasanth Kumar were found by a trekking team led by H M Vikram, the brother of Sakleshpur MLA H M Vishwanath, remaining two skeletons were found by police. Vasanth Kumar's skeletons were found at Aramanegudda area while remains of Tejamurthy and Bhaskar Babu were found at a place which is almost 2.5 kilometres away from Aramanegudda.
As reported earlier in these columns Vasanth Kumar (28), Tejamurthy (25) and Bhaskar Babu (28), hailing from Bangalore had come for trekking in Western Ghats region on May 28, 2006. After parking their Maruti van near a tea stall at Chamundeshwari Temple at Gundya, near Nelyadi here. They went on walking exploring new trek route.
Meanwhile, the tea stall owner grew suspicious after the owners of the car did not return even after a day. He informed the police and locals who immediately launched a search operation in the region especially in the thick woods. But every effort went in vain as no once could get any clue about the whereabouts of the threesome. Hassan SP Panduranga Rane had formed special teams for the search operation. Even the locals along with the family member of the missing trekkers had formed teams for the search operation. But nothing was achieved. Though the trekkers had carried their mobile phones along with them, they could not be contacted as there was network available in the area.
Speaking to press SP Panduranga Rane said that Tejamurthy's body was identified based on a gold chain in his neck while a driving license and ATM card found on other body helped to identify Bhaskar Babu's body. Vasanth Kumar's body too was identified through his driving license and ATM card. Relatives of the deceased were soon informed and Vasanth Kumar's father Ashwathnarayana and brother Maheshbabu established the identity of the body.
Bhaskar Babu's identity was established by his brother Deviprasad and Hemanth Kumar, a relative established Tejamurthy's identity.
The bodies are sent to laboratory for DNA test to ascertain the cause and time of death. As per now it is assumed that the three died out of starvation after missing the route in the forests. Heavy rains coupled with storm might have prevented them from returning. A shed erected by them too was traced in the area.
While Vasanth Kumar was a hardware engineer in Bangalore, Bhaskar Babu was an employee in Tata Silks Farms. Tejamurthy ran Adventure Trekking Club in Bangalore.
Earlier News: