Search Underway for Indian Origin Youth Missing in Montana’s Glacier National Par

HI INDIA NEWS DESK
HELENA, MT – A youth from Pune, Siddhant Vittal Patil, a tech professional living in California, has gone missing in the waters of Glacier National Park in Montana. Siddhant was hiking in the park with seven friends when he fell into Avalanche Creek on July 13. He briefly resurfaced before being swept away by the current into the gorge.

Witnesses, including Patil’s friends, reported that he had diverted from the trail and was standing on a large rock above the gorge when “he slipped and fell into the creek below,” said Pritesh Chaudhari, Siddhant’s uncle.

Search efforts included aerial surveys by ALERT helicopters and ground searches by more than ten rangers along the creek. Some personal items belonging to Patil were recovered downstream, but strong currents in the gorge have made it impossible to search the area thoroughly.

Park officials noted that the high water levels in the creek prevent rangers from entering the gorge until the runoff decreases. “It will take weeks or months for search operations to resume once the water level reduces,” said Chaudhari. Despite receiving Siddhant’s Apple Watch details, rangers have been unable to decode the information.

A drone was flown over Avalanche Creek on July 10 in an attempt to locate Patil, but the search was unsuccessful. Chaudhari expressed concern over the search efforts, alleging that not enough is being done and appealing to authorities for more prompt action. The family has also requested the hiring of private rangers to continue the search.

“Siddhant is the only child of his parents, and they are hopeful that he may be stuck somewhere safely,” Chaudhari said.