Tourists Stranded In Kerala Forest After Navigation App Leads To Elephant Zone, Rescued At Midnight

Although the path technically leads to their destination, torrential rains turned parts of the trail marshy, causing their vehicle to get lodged in a muddy pit.

Despite the remote location and adverse weather, the stranded tourists managed to contact the local fire station.

Source : Pixabay

What was meant to be a shortcut turned into a nightmarish ordeal for five men in Kerala’s Nilambur region after a navigation app directed them through a forest path late at night. The group, traveling from Kalpetta in Wayanad district to attend a function in Nilambur found themselves stuck deep in the forest amid heavy rainfall on Sunday night.

Following the GPS instructions, the travellers took a route that cuts through dense forest terrain. Although the path technically leads to their destination, torrential rains turned parts of the trail marshy, causing their vehicle to get lodged in a muddy pit.

The Rescue 

According to officials from the Fire and Rescue Services, the route is known to be used occasionally, but it becomes treacherous during the monsoon, especially after dark. "Actually, they didn't lose their way. There is a path through the forest that leads to their destination in Nilambur. However, it was raining heavily when they entered the forest at night, and their car got stuck in one of the marshy pits," one officer explained, as per PTI.

To make matters worse, the area is known for frequent wildlife activity, including elephants and wild boars, raising concerns about the group's safety.

Despite the remote location and adverse weather, the stranded tourists managed to contact the local fire station. A rescue team was immediately dispatched and successfully located the group. Rescuers had to tow the stranded vehicle using ropes tied to their own vehicle.

"The car got stuck in the pit and broke down. So we had to tow it by tying it to our vehicle with a rope," an officer added.

All five men were unharmed and resumed their journey after the vehicle was freed. Authorities have since urged travellers to avoid forest paths at night and be cautious when relying solely on digital navigation tools in unfamiliar or remote areas.