After weeks of searching, rangers at Glacier National Park have recovered the body of Indian techie Siddhant Vitthal Patil, a 26-year-old tech professional from India who fell into Avalanche Creek on July 6 and drowned.
Patil, who was living and working in California at the time of the incident, was hiking with seven friends above a gorge on the Avalanche Lake Trail when he diverted from the path and fell into the creek while standing on a large rock.Despite briefly resurfacing, he was swept away by the current into the gorge.
“After weeks of searching, rangers at Glacier National Park believe they have recovered the body of 26-year-old Siddhant Vitthal Patil from India today after Patil fell into Avalanche Creek on July 6, 2024, and drowned,” said park officials in as statement. They added, “Clothing and gear similar to what, according to friends, Patil was wearing at the time of the incident were also recovered. Around 10.30 am today (local time), a park visitor reported seeing a body in Avalanche Creek below the gorge. Rangers immediately began recovery efforts. Flathead County coroner is working to confirm identity through DNA or dental records.”
The search for Patil’s body was challenging due to submerged obstacles such as fallen trees and rocks, which limited the rangers’ ability to investigate the gorge for weeks because of water depth and whitewater conditions during spring and summer runoff. As the water level dropped, rangers used long poles to search large portions of the gorge but were unable to reach the deepest and most dangerous areas.
According to Glacier National Park officials, Patil was hiking with friends above a gorge on the Avalanche Lake Trail on July 6 when he diverted from the trail. While standing on a large rock, he fell into Avalanche Creek. It remains unclear whether he slipped on a wet portion of the rock or lost his balance. Friends and witnesses saw him fall into the creek, go underwater, resurface briefly, and then be swept away by the current into the gorge.
“An alert helicopter conducted aerial searches of the creek, and rangers scoured the area on July 6, recovering personal items that had washed downstream. During the past four weeks, ground search efforts have continued from the gorge to the bridge on the Trail of the Cedars,” added the statement from park officials.
Rangers used a drone multiple times to search the gorge. The Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail were temporarily closed during the recovery efforts and reopened around 3:30 p.m. local time.
Park officials extended their condolences to Siddhant Vitthal Patil’s family and friends, expressing hope that recovering the body would help bring closure to his loved ones. Patil was living and working in California at the time of the incident.
Siddhant’s uncle Pritesh Chaudhari told news agency ANI that US ranger officials informed them about the recovery of Patil’s body. Chaudhari expressed gratitude to the rangers and Indian American community leader Prem Bhandari for supporting the family during the search.
“We were informed by the US ranger officials that Siddhant’s body was found. As we are grappling with this grief, we also like to thank the rangers for carrying out this search. A special mention to Prem Bhandari who has been in constant touch with us for the last 27 days and supporting us. We have authorized Bhandari to arrange for Siddhant’s remains to be sent to Pune and complete the formalities,” Chaudhari told ANI.
Prem Bhandari, a prominent Indian diaspora leader assisting in repatriating the mortal remains to India, stated that park officials offered their condolences to the family and hoped that recovering the body would help bring closure to loved ones. The next step is to repatriate the mortal remains to the grieving family. In statement to ANI Bhandari said, “When I spoke to the Park officials they offered condolences to the family and hoped that recovering the body would help bring closure to loved ones. The next step is to repatriate the mortal remains to the family.
Patil, who was living and working in California at the time of the incident, was hiking with seven friends above a gorge on the Avalanche Lake Trail when he diverted from the path and fell into the creek while standing on a large rock.Despite briefly resurfacing, he was swept away by the current into the gorge.
“After weeks of searching, rangers at Glacier National Park believe they have recovered the body of 26-year-old Siddhant Vitthal Patil from India today after Patil fell into Avalanche Creek on July 6, 2024, and drowned,” said park officials in as statement. They added, “Clothing and gear similar to what, according to friends, Patil was wearing at the time of the incident were also recovered. Around 10.30 am today (local time), a park visitor reported seeing a body in Avalanche Creek below the gorge. Rangers immediately began recovery efforts. Flathead County coroner is working to confirm identity through DNA or dental records.”
The search for Patil’s body was challenging due to submerged obstacles such as fallen trees and rocks, which limited the rangers’ ability to investigate the gorge for weeks because of water depth and whitewater conditions during spring and summer runoff. As the water level dropped, rangers used long poles to search large portions of the gorge but were unable to reach the deepest and most dangerous areas.
According to Glacier National Park officials, Patil was hiking with friends above a gorge on the Avalanche Lake Trail on July 6 when he diverted from the trail. While standing on a large rock, he fell into Avalanche Creek. It remains unclear whether he slipped on a wet portion of the rock or lost his balance. Friends and witnesses saw him fall into the creek, go underwater, resurface briefly, and then be swept away by the current into the gorge.
“An alert helicopter conducted aerial searches of the creek, and rangers scoured the area on July 6, recovering personal items that had washed downstream. During the past four weeks, ground search efforts have continued from the gorge to the bridge on the Trail of the Cedars,” added the statement from park officials.
Rangers used a drone multiple times to search the gorge. The Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trail were temporarily closed during the recovery efforts and reopened around 3:30 p.m. local time.
Park officials extended their condolences to Siddhant Vitthal Patil’s family and friends, expressing hope that recovering the body would help bring closure to his loved ones. Patil was living and working in California at the time of the incident.
Siddhant’s uncle Pritesh Chaudhari told news agency ANI that US ranger officials informed them about the recovery of Patil’s body. Chaudhari expressed gratitude to the rangers and Indian American community leader Prem Bhandari for supporting the family during the search.
“We were informed by the US ranger officials that Siddhant’s body was found. As we are grappling with this grief, we also like to thank the rangers for carrying out this search. A special mention to Prem Bhandari who has been in constant touch with us for the last 27 days and supporting us. We have authorized Bhandari to arrange for Siddhant’s remains to be sent to Pune and complete the formalities,” Chaudhari told ANI.
Prem Bhandari, a prominent Indian diaspora leader assisting in repatriating the mortal remains to India, stated that park officials offered their condolences to the family and hoped that recovering the body would help bring closure to loved ones. The next step is to repatriate the mortal remains to the grieving family. In statement to ANI Bhandari said, “When I spoke to the Park officials they offered condolences to the family and hoped that recovering the body would help bring closure to loved ones. The next step is to repatriate the mortal remains to the family.
