The family members of the missing women, who went into the forest to collect Tendu leaves, tried to contact them over phone, but they could not and even as the villagers launched a search, police was also informed.

Nirmal: The nerve-wracking suspense over the fate of four women, who lost their way in the forest near Kappanapalli village, ended on Friday morning when police teams located and brought them back to their village.

Improptu celebrations broke out in Kappanapalli as the missing women, who went into the forest to collect Tendu leaves, returned home safely, albeit a bit shaken. For the 50 odd police personnel, who constituted special teams, to track the missing women, it was no less joy, as their six-hour-long search, both physical and ably assisted by drone cameras and cell phone signal tracking methods.

The hair-raising drama unfoled on Thursday night, when Kappanapalli residents realised the four women did not return home in the evening. The women – Rajula Radha, Kambala Lingavva, Gattumedi Laxmi and Battula Saroja had gone into the forest to collect Tendu leaves. The worried villagers launched a search on their own, but could not locate the women. Finally, the district police was alerted.

For the police, it was turning out to be a massive exercise. Quickly, over 50 policemen and women available in the nearby stations were summoned and special teams constituted by the SP Janaki Sharmila.