Latvian trekker missing in Himachal for two months

DHARAMSHALA:A Latvian national, who was on a solo trekking expedition from Dharamshala to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir, has been missing for over two months.

32-year-old Aleksandr Cawa Ruzga’s was last located on September 18 near Nag Dal Lake across 4,350 metre high Indrahar Pass in Dhauladhar mountains.

In a Facebook post, his mother Inna Sinchuka, said that Aleksandr had left Dharamshala on September 14 and did not contact her after that. He was planning to attend a meditation course at Dhamma Laddha Vipassana meditation centre in Leh from October 17-28.

Irina Lapyuk, a trekker, has claimed that she met Aleksandr near Nag Dal Lake on September 18, while he was on a month-long solo trek from Dharamshala to Leh via Chamba. They have filed a missing person report with Latvian Police and have reported the matter to the Latvian embassy in India. His mother said that they also tried to reach external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj without any success. “We also contacted the meditation Centre in Leh where Aleksandr was heading to but he did not appear there,” said his mother.

The family is also trying to contact guides and trekkers in the region who can give some information about Aleksandr in the villages of Chamba.

ASP Badri Singh said they have got no official information but came to know about the trekker from some local activists who shared his details on social media. “We are trying to get more inputs from local sources,” he said.