Surat / Bardoli / Kathmandu, November 9: A tragic incident has cast a pall of grief over Kadod village in Bardoli taluka of Surat district, as a father and daughter who had gone missing while trekking in Nepal have been found dead. The bodies of mountaineer Jigneshbhai Lallubhai Bhandari and his daughter Priyanshi were recovered today during an intensive search operation in the Annapurna region, days after they lost contact amid heavy snowfall.

According to reports, Jigneshbhai, a resident of Kadod village, and his daughter Priyanshi — a Class 11 student at Vanita Vishram Institute — were passionate about trekking and adventure. To pursue this shared interest, they had planned an expedition to the challenging Annapurna-3 peak in Nepal.

The duo left for Nepal on October 14 and began their ascent on October 21. Their return was scheduled for October 31, but no contact could be established after October 21, when Jigneshbhai last spoke to his wife, Jagrutiben. During that call, he had mentioned that the routes to Annapurna-3 were closed due to heavy snowfall.

When no communication followed for two days, Jagrutiben contacted the hotel where they were staying and learned they had not returned. A missing complaint was filed at the Kadod Out Post Police Station, and help was sought from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu through the office of MP Prabhu Vasava at Mandvi.

In her emotional plea, Jagrutiben had said, “I have such an expectation and request from the Indian government that you find my daughter and my husband and bring them home quickly.”* Sadly, her appeal could not be fulfilled.

MLA Ishwar Parmar of Bardoli said that after learning about the incident, he had immediately contacted the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). “The Indian Embassy was in constant touch with the Nepal Police and the family,” Parmar said. “Unfortunately, both of them lost contact in the heavy snowfall and succumbed to the harsh weather conditions.”

MP Prabhu Vasava also remained in touch with the family and authorities throughout the search operation. Nepalese authorities have now initiated procedures to bring back the bodies and complete the necessary legal formalities.

The heartbreaking news has plunged Kadod village and the entire Surat district into mourning, as residents recall the father-daughter duo’s spirit of adventure and their deep bond that led them on this final, tragic journey together.