Sullia: Forest man Kenchappa Gowda, who has been living in deep jungles of Sullia over the last 48 years passed away here on October 27.

He was staying at his brother’s house following illness for the last few days.

Kenchappa has been living in the heart of a deep jungle in Baledi of Miyodi in Markanja village of Sullia, about 86 kms from Mangaluru – like a Stone Age man for the last 48 years. Clad in just a codpiece, Kenchappa’s little world was confined to the sprawling forest of Baledi Reserved Forest and a dilapidated structure made of wood and coconut leaves, that he called home.

Born to Kudanekodi Doddanna Gowda and Durgamma, as long as he lived in the ‘civilised society’, he worked as an agri worker. Kenchappa was only 23 when he decided to renounce the life that he was leading and venture into wild.