Bhubaneswar: As many as 17 pilgrims from Chhattisgarh, who lost their way while trekking on foot from Nrusinghnath to Harishankar Temple in Odisha, were successfully rescued by security forces today.

According to Padampur SDPO, the group had visited the Nrusinghnath Temple in Bargarh district and was on their way to Harishankar Temple in neighbouring Bolangir district when they got lost in the dense forested region between the two sites. The incident occurred around 8:00 PM on July 23.

Due to darkness and rainfall, the pilgrims were unable to identify the correct route and eventually contacted the 112 emergency helpline for assistance. The police then launched a rescue operation by deploying a District Voluntary Force (DVF) team to locate the missing pilgrims.

Despite challenging weather and difficult terrain, the DVF team managed to trace all 17 pilgrims safely. The rescued individuals are now being escorted back to Nrusinghnath Temple. No casualties or injuries were reported.

The forest stretch between Nrusinghnath and Harishankar temples is a popular but rugged pilgrimage trail that draws many devotees, especially during the holy month of Shravan.