HASSAN: Police and forest officials are continuing a search in the Shiradi Ghat here for three trekkers from Bangalore, are yet to trace them.

V. Tejamurthy of the Adventure Trekking Association, Vasantha Kumar, hardware engineer, and Bhaskar Babu ventured into the forest on May 28. According to Shivakumar, brother of Mr. Tejamurthy, who has registered a complaint with the police, the three trekkers left their vehicle near the Chamundeshwari Temple at Maranahalli in Hassan district, and entered the forest on May 28.

The police and forest officials launched a search in the Shiradi Ghat on Thursday.

Four teams

Superintendent of Police Panduranga H. Rane The Hindu that the four teams comprising police and forest personnel and trekkers from Bangalore are continuing their search.

Heavy rain and fog, and thick vegetation forced the teams to suspend the search. Twenty persons were camping atop a hill in the Bisle Ghat and searching the area, he said.

According to the police, a team conducted a search along the banks of Kempuhole, Varki, Kadugadde, Haravanagadde, Arebetta and Gundia areas.

Puja

Villagers said they saw three persons performing puja at the Chamundeshwari temple before entering the forest.

They had warned the trekkers against venturing into the forest in the rain, the villagers said.

Mr. Rane and Additional Superintendent of Police K.S. Thammiah visited Maranahalli on Saturday and held discussions with officials.

Policemen from Uppinangadi and Mangalore have been instructed to look for the missing trekkers in the forests coming under their jurisdictions.

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