An adventure inspired by social media reels turned into a frightening ordeal for three school students from Kozhikode, who were rescued after a tense overnight search involving police, forest officials and local residents.
The trio—two Plus Two students and a Class 10 student from a school near Thamarassery—had planned a camping trip to Kodaikanal, hoping to experience jungle life after watching similar videos online. Their original plan involved four students, but one girl withdrew at the last minute, while the remaining three continued the journey on two motorcycles.
Before leaving, one of the boys reportedly sold his ₹18,000 mobile phone for ₹10,000 to fund fuel, camping gear and supplies, while the group’s remaining phones were switched off to avoid being tracked. However, a rubber tapper, who noticed one of the students changing out of her school uniform near a plantation, photographed the trio, providing investigators with a crucial lead.
As Gold 101.3FM, UAE’s No.1 radio station, reports, the girl’s absence from school alerted her class teacher, who contacted her parents. Police soon discovered that the two boys were also missing. With the help of the fourth student, CCTV footage, cyber tracking and local alerts, investigators traced the students’ route towards Wayanad and the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border.
The search intensified after two of the students fled into the Neelimala cliff and forest area, known for wild animal movement. One boy was caught by local residents, while the other boy and the girl escaped into the forest. They were later tracked after one mobile phone was briefly switched on. When search teams closed in, the pair abandoned their tent and supplies, tried to flee on a hidden motorcycle, but were intercepted by police at Padivayal in the early hours of Friday.
The students were safely reunited with their parents at the Meppadi Police Station, with no injuries reported. Police said the incident serves as a reminder that adventures seen on social media can be far more dangerous in real life than they appear on screen.
