Arizona woman, 29, found dead after she was swept away by flash floods at Zion National Park in Utah
An Arizona woman who was swept away by flash flooding in Zion National Park in Utah was found dead on Monday.
Jetal Agnihotri, 29, was found about six miles downstream from where she was believed to have been swept up by the overflowing Virgin River on Friday.
Haunting footage taken by her own brother during the flooding showed two people struggling to stay afloat in the rush of water, and Agnihotri’s family said they believe the video showed some of her final moments.
Despite flash flood warnings and not being able to swim, Agnihotri decided to brave a section of the park known as the Narrows – a riverbed flowing at the bottom of a steep ravine that requires wading through water on a good weather day.
Friends said they decided to stay back when they heard about the flash flood warnings, but Agnihotri, rearing to go, went ahead to hike the Narrows on her own.
The friends were supposed to meet near the visitor center’s parking lot, and when she did not show up, Agnihotri’s friends called for help.
The Virgin River – which flows through the heart of Zion – flooded after the southwest was hit with a deluge of rain which left dropped up to eight inches of rain on parts of New Mexico, and left parks across the region flooded and under flash flood warnings.
The flooding swept people off their feet in Zion, while elsewhere in the region people had to huddle inside the visitor center at Carlsbad Caverns National Park with limited food supplies for nine hours on Saturday.
Jetal Agnihotri, 29, was found about six miles downstream from where she was believed to have been swept up by the overflowing Virgin River on Friday
Agnihotri’s body was found in the center of the park near a trio of cliffs known as the Court of the Patriarchs, according to the New York Daily News.
She was a graduate student at the University of Arizona enjoying an end of summer trip with her friends before school started back up.
‘Our deepest sympathy goes out to the friends and family of Jetal Agnihotri,’ Jeff Bradybaugh, Zion National Park superintendent, said in a statement.
The terrifying footage filmed by her bother, Pujan, showed a man in what appeared to be a life-jacket clinging to a log rushing down the charging river. In front of him, a woman appears to be struggling to keep her head above the surface as he reaches for her.
The New York Times said at least one person was injured in the floods after they were pulled downstream, though it is unclear if that person was the man in the video.
Footage taken by Agnihotri’s brother which shows two people being swept down the Virgin River during flash flooding
A person in a life jacket can be seen at the center right of the image. Ahead of that person is another individual struggling to stay afloat. Agnihotri’s family thinks it is her
Following the flooding which killed Agnihotri, Utah governor Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency which will remain in effect for 30 days.
In a Tuesday press release Cox said the declaration would help authorities give assistance to localities effected by the severe flooding.
In Utah the flooding hit Emery, Wayne, and Grand counties, and left the tourist hub of Moab – home to Arches National Park – with severe damage to buildings and infrastructure.
‘I’m shocked by the size and scope of the flooding that swept through Moab causing damage to homes, businesses, and local infrastructure,’ said Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, ‘Fortunately, I’m hopeful for a full recovery. Moab is open for business and the cleanup is well underway.’
Agnihotri’s body was found in the center of the park near a trio of cliffs known as the Court of the Patriarchs
Agnihotri was a graduate student at the University of Arizona enjoying an end of summer trip with her friends before school started back up
The southwest flooding is only the latest such event to rock the US this summer.
In June severe flooding tore through Yellowstone National Park in Montana and Wyoming, reshaping the landscape of the iconic nature preserve and leaving thousands of locals stranded and evacuated.
In just one week in July, three floods deemed once-in-thousand-year events struck St. Louis, Missouri, caused at least $10million in damage in Illinois, and killed at least 39 people in Kentucky.
The flooding also struck West Virginia and Tennessee, and as recently as this month week, the Las Vegas strip was flooded as desert rains pounded the casino city.
