Pune Man Missing in US Since July 6, Family Seeks Urgent Help Amid Futile Aerial Searches

Washington DC: A Pune man living in US is missing and was last seen going for hiking with his friends.

Working as a techie in California, Siddhant Vittal Patil was hiking at the park with seven other friends when he went into Avalanche Creek on last Saturday morning.

Indian Man Missing In US, Suspected To Have Drowned

According to a spokesperson of the Glacier National Park, the Pune man drowned in the waters of the park in the US state of Montana.

Patil entered the creek, either by slipping or losing his balance on a large rock. He went underwater, briefly resurfaced, and then was swept up by the current and into the gorge.

Aerial Searches Fail To Find Pune Man

Aerial searches were conducted by ALERT helicopters over the creek and the surrounding area while more than 10 rangers looked for the man along the creek and assisted in the search on foot.

The rangers have confirmed that some personal items have been recovered downstream. 

The area is still being monitored by GNP rangers; however, the water in the gorge is not searchable due to the strong currents caused by the whitewater conditions in Avalanche Creek.

Family Seeks Urgent Help

"Siddhant is the only child of his parents, and they were hopeful that he may be stuck somewhere safely. Not enough effort is being put in by the authorities," Siddhant Vittal Patil's maternal uncle alleged and appealed to authorities to take prompt action.

The family in India has also asked the authorities if they can hire private rangers so that their child could be located; a week of no news about him has worried the family. 

(Inputs from ANI)