Hungarian Tourist Found Dead in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills

SHILLONG: In a tragic turn of events, Meghalaya police on Thursday found the decomposed body of a Hungarian tourist, Zolt Puskas, who had been missing since March 29.

His body was found at the isolated and steeply sloping forested region of Ramdait village, which is on the way to Tyrna in Shella near Cherrapunji, East Khasi Hills district.

The authorities believe that the tourist died following an accidental fall during solo trekking in the difficult terrain. The police authorities confirmed the discovery on Friday, ending a sad week-long search operation.

The case had reached local authorities after the Hungarian Embassy informed the police on March 29 that Puskas was missing. The Meghalaya police had registered a First Information Report (FIR) on April 2, based on the alert from the embassy, and then immediately started a joint search-and-rescue effort. Police staff, Home Guards, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and volunteers at the local level participated in the operation.

As per the police probe, Puskas had booked a hotel in Laitumkhrah, Shillong, at the wee hours of March 29. He had checked out and taken a local taxi to Sohra (Cherrapunji) by about 9 a.m. on the same day.

The taxi driver later verified that Puskas was dropped at Mawsahew village. From there, he was said to have proceeded by foot, loaded with a single backpack, and was thought to be going toward Nongriat village from Mawkawir.

As luck would have it, the hike took a deadly twist, as the body of Puskas was subsequently discovered deceased in a state of decomposition inside a forest section of the Ramdait district. The country is famous for its challenging treks and steep slopes, possibly led to the accident.

Police officials are still investigating, but initial signs point to no foul play. Authorities are consulting with the Hungarian Embassy on the way forward, including the repatriation of the body.

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