Karnataka's forest minister Eshwar Khandre has ordered the creation of a comprehensive standard operating procedure (SOP) for trekking safety in the state's forested regions.
The directive comes after a 15-year-old girl from Kerala went missing in the Chandradrona hills of Chikkamagaluru district, and a recent case in which another trekker from Kerala was located after being missing for four days in Kodagu.
The proposed framework aims to establish uniform safety measures and could serve as a model for similar initiatives across the country.
Officials have been asked to examine the use of technology to improve monitoring and response during treks, including the development of a mobile application to track trekkers' movement.
The proposed SOP also places responsibility on designated nature guides, who would be required to carry wireless communication devices and oversee coordination and safety for trekking groups.
The disappearance of the teenager, identified as Nandana, has led to a broadened scope of inquiry, with police reviewing CCTV footage and compiling data on vehicles present at the site on the day of the incident.
No physical evidence has been recovered, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the case.
