Siddhant Vitthal Patil, a 26-year-old Indian techie working at Cadence Design Systems in San Jose, California, is presumed dead after drowning in Glacier National Park in the United States. The tragic incident occurred despite efforts by park authorities and ongoing search operations.
According to Patil’s family, he had been enjoying a trip with six friends at Glacier National Park. His uncle, Pritesh Chaudhari, based in Pune, recounted how Siddhant had called his mother, Priti, just hours before the incident to update her on their trip and planned return to San Jose in a few days.
Efforts to locate Siddhant’s body have been hindered by submerged obstacles such as fallen trees and rocks, complicating search efforts despite aerial searches conducted by helicopters. His friends provided the iPhone IMEI numbers to park rangers and authorities in Montana to aid in the search, although these efforts have yet to yield results.
“Siddhant went to the US in 2020 to pursue his MS at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and joined Cadence in 2023,” explained Chaudhari, highlighting Siddhant’s academic and professional journey.
The family, devastated by the tragedy, is receiving support from the Indian consulate in Seattle and seeking assistance from Indian leaders, including Sharad Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, who have reached out to the government for help. Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol from Pune is in contact with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for updates on the search operation.
“Siddhant’s parents are in shock and unable to speak,” Chaudhari added, reflecting the emotional toll on the family.
Park rangers continue to monitor the area and recover personal belongings that have washed downstream. A drone was deployed in an attempt to locate Siddhant’s body, although these efforts were unsuccessful.
Sources By Agencies
