HASSAN: For Venkata Swamy, father of amateur trekker Teju Murthy, the last hope that his son is alive somewhere was lost when he identified his skeleton at Nadubetta, 8 km from Kadumane Tea Estates, in Sakleshpur taluk.

Teju Murthy was married three years ago and has a one-year-old son. Teju's shoes and gold chain were intact.

Janardhan and Jaheer, friends of Teju, accompanied the police and Forest Department staff while searching for the skeletons.

The skeleton of Bhaskar Babu, who was part of the three-member group, was identified by his relatives. He had a artificial gold plated tooth.

The skeleton of Vasanth Kumar was also identified.

On Tuesday morning, the police, Forest Department officials and a team of reporters trekked from Kadumane Estate to Aramane Gudda Forest, climbing four hills en route.

There were traces of elephant droppings all along the narrow road, indicating the presence of an elephant herd in the area.

There were signs of dogs (Sheelu Nayi) that had left behind remains of birds and other smaller animals, and the entire area was filled with filth.

There was "Anantha Hari" tree, and the skeletons of Teju and Bhaskar Babu looked as if they were sitting on the branch of the tree when the end came.

Mobile phones missing

All the belongings of the three trekkers were intact, except for the three mobile phones.

Superintendent of Police Pandurang Rane led a team of 100 policemen, 50 Forest Department staff and five trekkers from Bangalore who were closely associated with the Bangalore Amateur Trekker Club. Samples of bones would be sent to Bangalore for forensic test and the remaining portions of the skeleton would be handed over to the relatives for performing the last rites.

Mr. Janardhan and Mr. Jaheer said Teju Murthy was a regular trekker and a nature lover.

Regular trekker

Every year he used to conduct trekking for students and he came to Charana Ghats to find new places to take children on a package tour.

The three trekkers apparently lost their way and tried to protect themselves from torrential rain.

Mr. Rane and experts from Forest Department said the three trekkers from Bangalore appeared to have stopped their van near Chamundeswari temple at Maranahalli on June 1 at 4 p.m.

They parked their van near the Inspection Bungalow and then entered the forest.

On June 1, there was heavy rain.

According to Forest Department officials, on that day the area received 200 mm of rain.

The police suspect that the trekkers could have tried to save themselves from floods and starved to death.

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