Tragic End to Nepal Trekking Expedition
The search for a missing Indian father and daughter has concluded with the discovery of their bodies in the mountainous region of Manang district, Nepal. Jignesh Kumar Lallubhai Patel, 52, and his 17-year-old daughter Priyadarshani, residents of Kadod in Bardoli taluka of Surat, Gujarat, were found buried under snow near the Maleripa Monastery.
The Disappearance and Search Operation
The tragic sequence of events began on October 20, when the Patel duo left Gyalsen Hotel at Disyang after informing hotel staff they were heading to Maleripa Monastery. When they failed to return, concerned hotel staff alerted the Nepal Mountain Rescue Training School in Manang.
Initial search efforts by the training school proved unsuccessful, prompting authorities to dispatch a specialized mountain rescue team. Deputy Superintendent of Police Hira Bahadur GC led the trained team equipped with proper rescue equipment to locate the missing tourists.
The Discovery and Investigation
The rescue team made the grim discovery on Sunday, finding the bodies approximately 100 meters above the Maleripa Monastery, buried under snow. According to police statements, evidence suggests the tourists had visited the monastery and then proceeded further uphill, possibly seeking better views, when tragedy struck.
Shailendra Thapa, deputy spokesperson for the Armed Police Force (APF), confirmed the recovery of the bodies from near Maleripa Monastery at Disyang in Manang district.
Family's Desperate Search Efforts
Meanwhile, in India, Jagruti, wife of Jignesh Patel, had grown increasingly concerned about her missing family members. She recently contacted the Surat district police and the State Emergency Operation Centre at Gandhinagar, seeking assistance in locating her husband and daughter.
In her formal complaint to Kadod outpost of Bardoli police, Jagruti revealed that her husband and daughter had left after October 15 for mountaineering in Nepal. She reported having her last conversation with Jignesh on October 21, during which he informed her they had reached the base camp of the Annapurna Mountains in Manang district and planned to return by October 30.
The recovery of the bodies brings a heartbreaking conclusion to the search operation, highlighting the dangers of mountain trekking even for experienced adventurers. The incident serves as a sobering reminder for tourists to exercise extreme caution while exploring high-altitude regions, particularly as weather conditions can change rapidly in mountainous areas.
