Matheran : The body of 33-year-old Navy officer Surajsingh Amarpalsingh Chauhan, who went missing on September 7 during the Bhivpuri–Garbett trek near Matheran, was recovered on Monday.
According to Neral Police, the body was found about 50 feet deep in a gorge behind Satoba Temple, near the Pali Bhootwali dam, between Karjat and Neral. The recovery operation, led by Assistant Police Inspector Shivaji Dhavale with the Sahyadri Rescue Team, was carried out through dense forest terrain.
Chauhan, a native of Rajasthan and serving as Master Chief, Class II at the FTTT Dockyard, Colaba, had joined duty in Mumbai on May 27. He had last been tracked near Dhom Dam on September 7 before his phone switched off.
Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and sent the body to JJ Hospital, Mumbai, for postmortem. “He might have slipped and fallen, or even a snake bite could be the reason. Only the postmortem will confirm the cause,” Dhavale said.
Since his disappearance, extensive search operations involving the Indian Navy, MMRCC, forest officials, and police had been underway, with drones and ground teams scouring the area. Family members also joined the rescue efforts.
Police confirmed that there is no foul play suspected, as CCTV footage showed Chauhan heading alone for the trek.
