Kadambazhipuram bids tearful adieu to Sreenanda

Palakkad: Kadambazhipuram village near Ottapalam bid an emotional farewell to 15-year-old Sreenanda, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka. Her mortal remains were brought home five days after she went missing, leaving relatives, friends and her neighbours in deep grief.The body reached her residence around 9am, where a large crowd, including relatives, classmates and teachers, gathered to pay their last respects. After the final rites at her home, the body was cremated at Thiruvilwamala Ivarmadom around 1pm.Sreenanda had gone on a trip with her parents and relatives to Hampi and Chikkamagaluru last Tuesday. The family was informed the next day that she had gone missing near the Manikyadhara waterfalls. A 10-member team from her home town had rushed to the spot, hoping she would be found alive after search.However, the family received the sad news on Friday afternoon that her body had been found after four days of intensive search operations involving police, locals and thermal drones.Relatives had initially expressed suspicion over the circumstances of her death. However, based on the postmortem findings, police informed the family that Sreenanda is believed to have died after falling from a steep cliff about 1,500 feet high. Injury marks were found on her head and body consistent with the fall.The report stated that there was no evidence of unnatural cause of death. However, relatives said their doubts have not been completely cleared, and questions remain whether it was an accidental fall or not. Sreenanda had recently appeared for her SSLC examinations and was awaiting results. Known for her academic excellence and active participation in arts and school-level competitions, she was remembered fondly by teachers and students, many of whom broke down while paying their last respects.She had travelled with a 40-member group, visiting Hampi before reaching Chikkamagaluru, where the group had also visited Manikyadhara waterfalls and Baba Budangiri hills. She went missing the following evening, triggering a massive four-day search operation that ended with the recovery of her body.