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Nine students lost their way while trekking in Kanakumbi forest, rescued after a joint operation

Nine students from a Belagavi educational institution were successfully rescued after losing their way during a trek in the Kanakumbi forest. The joint operation, spanning over eight hours and involving forest officials from both Goa and Karnataka, concluded on December 30.


On December 29, the students ventured on motorcycles to Javani waterfalls near Parwad village on the Karnataka–Goa border. Having traveled three kilometers into the dense forest, they parked their motorcycles and proceeded on foot. Unfortunately, they lost their way during the return journey.
Desperate for help, the students messaged their college friends, who promptly alerted forest officials. A search operation, led by ACF Santosh Chavan, began on the night of December 29. Simultaneously, Goa forest officials initiated their search after being informed by their Karnataka counterparts.


The students were discovered in a Goa forest, having taken refuge near rocks. After providing first aid, forest officials transported them to the office of the Kanakumbi range forest officer. Subsequently, a case of forest trespassing was registered against the students by Goa authorities, who also informed their parents and the college principal.


RFOs Shivakumar, Rakesh Arjunwad, Nagaraj Balehosur, DRFO Vinayak Patil, and Goa DFO Anand were key participants in the joint search and rescue operation. The students were eventually handed over to their relieved parents.

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