New York, Aug 23 : As the heavy rains have hit areas of the US the search is in progress for an Indian woman who disappeared during an emergency flash flood in Utah’s Zion National Park.On Monday, park spokesperson Jonathan Shafer said that the search for Jetal Agnihotri 29 who was lost in flash floods on August 19 was extended.
Agnihotri was with an assemblage of hikers in the Zion National Park when they were taken away by the waves, Shafer said.
He stated that Parks Service Rangers sped to the area and assisted a number of hikers who had been injured or trapped.
Rangers learned of Agnihotri missing, and began searching but to no avail in the region as well as in the Virgin River.
The investigation continued on Monday Shafer stated that “the Washington County Sheriff Office’s Swift Water Team investigated fast-flowing and deep areas of the Virgin River, dog handlers examined log-jams and other vegetation as well as the Zion National Park Search and Rescue Team continued its search in and around the Virgin River”.
CBS affiliate station KUTV reported that the family of Agnihotri has arrived in Utah as well as Texas and are holding out hope that she could be found.
Her brother, Pujan Agnihotri, informed the station that his sister was going hiking with other friends in the park, but had decided to quit the group and explore a different part of the park.
Jetal Agnihotri is a PhD student at the University of Arizona studying hydrology and atmospheric sciences, KGUN TV reported.
The heavy rains have devastated regions of the US mostly in the south, following a dry period.
Dallas recorded 23.3 millimeters of rain over the 24 hours that ended on Monday afternoon.The rain submerged cars in areas of the city.It also and flooded homes and caused the delay or cancellation of hundreds of flights at local airports.
In Arizona, a levee near the Gila river broke on Monday, flooding the town, causing evacuations following heavy rain last week caused damage to roads around Tuscon which resulted in closures.
This month Las Vegas was hit by flash floods along its famous strip, which left two dead and casinos inundated.
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