New York, Aug 24 : The Indian American woman who had been lost in an erupting flood in the national park was discovered dead after just four days of search and rescue according to park spokesperson Jonathan Shafer.The body of Jetal Agnihotri was discovered late on Monday in the Virgin River in the Zion National Park concluding the search of around 170 individuals, he said.
Her death was confirmed by her brother informed CBS affiliate station KUTV KUTV, “She is gone”.
“Our sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends of Jetal Agnihotri”, Park superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said.
The 29-year old PhD student at the University of Arizona studying hydrology and atmospheric sciences was missing on Friday as she was out hiking with an intrepid group in the park in Utah State and the flash flood washed them away.
Park rangers helped the injured hikers and wanderers who were left stranded, except for Agnihotri who had split from the group.
When she was found missing on Friday, the park authorities began searching, Shafer said.
Her body was found 10 miles from the spot the place she was last reported to be.
Members of the various National Parks Service and Forest Service locations firefighters and local sheriffs’ officers, and the search dog team were part of the search.
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