The body of an Indian national who drowned in Glacier National Park in Montana, USA was recovered by park rangers after nearly a month-long search.
Siddhant Patil, a Maharashtra-born man working in California, was hiking over a ravine on the Avalanche Lake Trail on July 6. Avalanche Creek standing on a large rock,
Patil’s friends saw him going under the water and then coming above the water, but then the current of water swept him away into the ditch.
According to news agency ANI, Siddhant’s uncle, Preetesh Chaudhary, confirmed that US Ranger officials have informed him about finding Siddhant’s body.
“After weeks of searching, Glacier National Park rangers believe they have today recovered the body of Siddhant, 26, from India. Siddhant fell into Avalanche Creek and drowned on July 6, 2024,” Glacier National Park officials said in a statement.
According to NBC Montana, park rangers suspected the body was trapped by submerged obstructions, which limited search efforts.
“Clothing and gear similar to what Siddhant was wearing at the time of the incident have also been recovered. At around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, a park visitor reported seeing a body in Avalanche Creek at the bottom of the canyon. Rangers immediately began rescue operations. The Flathead County Coroner is working to confirm the identity through DNA or dental records,” officials said, according to ANI.
The Maharashtra government had earlier requested External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s intervention to request US authorities to trace Siddhant’s body.
With the recovery of Patil’s body, the search has now ended.