Glacier National Park, Montana – Siddhant Vitthal Patil, a 26-year-old Indian techie from California, drowned while hiking with friends in Glacier National Park over the July 4 weekend. Patil, who was vacationing with friends, fell into Avalanche Creek from a large rock on the Avalanche Lake Trail.
Incident Details:
- Patil diverted from the trail and fell into the creek.
- Witnesses saw him go underwater and briefly resurface before being swept away by the current.
- Despite extensive searches, his body remains missing.
Patil’s friends and witnesses reported seeing him fall into the creek and resurface briefly before being swept away. Despite aerial and on-foot searches, Patil’s body has not been recovered, though some personal items have been found downstream. Park rangers suspect submerged obstacles might be trapping his body underwater.
Hours before the accident, Patil had texted his mother, sharing that he was enjoying his trip with friends and planned to return to San Jose in a few days. Patil, a Cadence Design Systems employee, had completed his Master’s at UCLA and his Bachelor’s at Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani.
In a separate incident, Raju Jha, a 28-year-old from Nepal, drowned while swimming in Lake McDonald on July 6. Jha, an inexperienced swimmer living in Oregon, was vacationing with friends when he struggled and went underwater. His body has since been recovered.
The tragic loss of Siddhant Patil serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers in natural settings. This incident has deeply affected the Indian and South Asian communities in the US, highlighting the need for safety precautions during outdoor activities.