When adventurism takes a dangerous turn

On June 26, 2026, an ordinary day in Valook, a picturesque village near Kozhikode, turned ominous as the sun set. The villagers were startled by loud cries and flashes of light emanating from the nearby hills, leading them to suspect that a group of thrill-seekers might be stranded. Bipin Thomas, a local, remembered the search parties that were soon organized, including residents themselves, to locate the missing persons.

T.P. Pavithran, a former local body head, recounted how three young adventurers had ventured into the forest at dusk, with one of them deciding to wait while the others searched for their friend. The rescue mission, led by 35 officials from the Kerala Forest department, was fraught with challenges due to the lack of precise information regarding the missing youth's location and the heavy darkness.

After several hours of effort, the lost individual was found, severely frightened and exhausted. He and the other two were booked for trespassing under Section 27 of the Kerala Forest Act, 1961, which carries a punishment of up to five years. The increasing number of such impulsive adventures has been a cause for concern for authorities.

The Kerala Forest department released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for trekking trails after a similar incident involving G.S. Saranya, a native of Nadapuram, who got lost in the forest and had to be rescued after four days of intense searching, involving both Kerala and Karnataka. Forest officials urge the public not to venture into restricted forest areas, as it endangers both the individuals and the wildlife.

They also highlight the need for a comprehensive guideline for trekking in these terrains, given the rising popularity of such activities among the youth.