Sydney, May 22 (IANS) A frantic search is on for a 25-year-old Indo-Canadian man who went missing in a national park in Australia.
Prabhdeep Srawn of Brampton in the Canadian province of Ontario was last seen May 13 parking his rental vehicle at village Charlotte Pass and entering the Kosciuszko National Park in the Australian state of New South Wales, according to local media.
A law student of Bond University in Australia’s Gold Coast, Srawn was reportedly trying to climb Mount Kosciuszko, the highest peak in mainland Australia that is located within the park.
According to the Gold Coast Bulletin News, 23 New South Wales policemen, national park and wildlife service rangers and a rescue helicopter with thermal-imaging equipment will continue searching the 100 sq km area of the national park Wednesday weather permitting.
Peter Rooney, a police officer in the town of Jindabyne, said that the route Srawn is believed to have taken is considered an easy walk in fair weather conditions.
But it was near impossible Tuesday due to blizzard-like and zero-visibility conditions.
According to Rooney, officers were extremely concerned for Srawn’s safety and had not handled a case that “ended well” after such a lengthy disappearance.
Srawn was a master corporal in the Canadian Armed Forces, an Australia Defence Force reservist and had bushwalking experience.
He has been in Australia for two years and was due to leave for Canada in a few months.
According to Tej Sahota, a relative based in the US, Srawn has done several hikes before.
“He’s had training in cold weather before in temperatures as low as -30C,” he was quoted as saying.
“It is not like him to go missing. He is experienced and very meticulous about timings.”
Meanwhile, Srawn’s sister, mother and father arrived in Australian capital Canberra Tuesday to join in the search efforts.
A Facebook page, titled ‘Help, Find Prabh Srawn Missing Bushwalker’, has also been posted.
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