The body of an Arizona woman who was swept up in a flash flood at Zion National Park in Utah last Friday was found in the Virgin River downstream from the Narrows where she had been hiking. A park release sent Tuesday afternoon said the body of Jetal Agnihotri, of Tucson, was found Monday in the river near the Court of the Patriarchs, about six river miles down from the Narrows.
Torrential rains flooded the popular Narrows slot canyon just to the north of the Temple of Sinawava on the floor of Zion Canyon, with the raging waters knocking several hikers off their feet near the Temple of Sinawava. Rangers who responded to the flood found an injured hiker who had been swept downstream several hundred yards. A National Park Service ambulance transported the hiker to a hospital. Other rangers hiked up Riverside Walk and found several hikers who were isolated by high water on high ground. Rangers directed them to remain in place until water receded and then assisted them to safety.
Throughout that afternoon and evening rangers interviewed groups of visitors exiting the Narrows and Riverside Walk to ensure they were not missing a member of their party. At that time, no hikers were reported missing. However, later that night the Park Service received a report that the 29-year-old Agnihotri was overdue from a trip in the Narrows.
A video shot by the woman's brother of the flood waters captured images of two people being swept downstream, one of who was believed to be Agnihotri.
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