GUWAHATI: The decomposed body of a Hungarian tourist, who had been missing for nearly a fortnight, was found in a forest in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district, police said on Friday.
On April 2, four days after Puskas Zsolt’s disappearance, the Hungarian Embassy filed a missing person complaint with the Meghalaya police.
Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem told TNIE on Friday that a search team found the body.
“We had launched a search operation on April 2 itself. Police personnel from Sohra and adjoining police stations were engaged. Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force, a drone control centre, and locals were also involved,” the SP said.
He said there are many trekking trails in the area, and the forest is also very thick.
A forensic team visited the area on Friday. Syiem said an inquest by a magistrate would be conducted, followed by an autopsy.
“We are in touch with the embassy. If family members come to take the body, we will hand it over after registering a case of unnatural death. Otherwise, it will be cremated here,” the SP said.
“We don’t suspect any foul play. Things are intact (with him). It is a peaceful village. Nothing has ever happened with tourists,” he said.
He further stated that the Hungarian national was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
“He may have slipped and fallen. He took a path different from the usual trails. Nobody usually takes that path. He probably got stuck and died of hunger. But the post-mortem will confirm everything,” the SP added.
Zsolt had checked into a hotel in Shillong on March 29 around 3:45 am, and around 9 am the same day, he had left for the Sohra area in a taxi.