Mangaluru: Santosh, aged 25, one of a team of 12 trekkers from Bengaluru, lost his way at about 5 PM on Sunday evening when he set out to continue his trek after food at the house of Girigadde Mahalingeshwara Bhat, a resident of the area, who would provide food to trekkers who have prebooked for it. Total of 54 trekkers had booked food on that day.
Taking a wrong turn when returning to continue his trek, he lost his way and in no time 45 people in several search teams were out looking for him.
With no charge in his cellphone and no landmarks to go by, he walked the full day drinking only water to stifle his hunger.
It was only on Tuesday about noon that he found a water pipeline installed by a temple in the reserve forest area.
Following that pipeline, he reached the house of a local resident of Kallugundi, close to the Kukke Subramanya Temple.
Police told TOI that after food, and a complete health check-up, he completed legal procedures and left with his team for Bengaluru.
