Indian techie drowns in Glacier National Park in United States

A 26-year-old Indian techie drowned in Glacier National Park in the United States during a holiday with friends. The body of Siddhant Vitthal Patil, who is from Maharashtra, has not been found despite searches, and he is presumed to be dead, Glacier National Park authorities said in a statement.

The incident happened on July 6 when Patil, who worked in San Jose, went hiking on the Avalanche Lake Trail. During the hike, Patil fell off a large rock into Avalanche Creek. It is, however, not clear if he slipped on a wet portion of the rock or lost his balance.

Patil’s friends said they saw him go underwater and resurface before being swept by the current into the gorge.

The Maharashtra government had also written a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking his intervention in the matter and requesting the US authorities to find his body.

Police said Patil’s body was likely being held down by submerged obstacles such as fallen trees or rocks.

Hours before the tragedy, Patil had texted his mother from the park, his family stated on Friday.

Speaking with news agency PTI, his maternal uncle Pritesh Chaudhari stated, “Last Friday, Siddhant called up his mother Priti from the park and told her that he has been in the park for three days with six other Indian friends and is enjoying the trip.”

In the text message, according to Chaudhari, Patil told his mother that he would be returning to San Jose, where he worked with Cadence Design Systems, in another three days.

Chaudhari told PTI that both of his parents are distraught and not in a condition to speak. “I have been in touch with the consulate since Monday, but there is no information about his body, he said.

Patil’s father retired from the Maharashtra government’s irrigation department in May.

(With inputs from PTI)