Sandarsh ​​Krishna: ASU Student's Body Found in Grand Canyon After Two Weeks Missing

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The mystery of the disappearance of Sandarsh ​​Krishna, a 26-year-old Arizona State University (ASU) student, was finally solved with the discovery of the body of the young Indian national on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

This discovery ended an intensive search that had lasted nearly two weeks in one of the world's natural wonders, Grand Canyon National Park.

Krishna was reported missing on April 28, 2026, after being last seen in the Grand Canyon area between 4:00 p.m. on April 27 and midnight the following night.

His last known location was along the Rim Trail on Hermit Road, a popular area on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon frequented by tourists.

The National Park Service (NPS) and the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office are continuing their in-depth investigation into this tragic incident.

Krishna's body was found beneath a cliff near Verkamp's Visitor Center, a location relatively close to where he was last seen.

JUST IN: National Park officials say a 26-year-old man reported missing at the Grand Canyon last month has been found dead. https://t.co/iUEY1cYQ8H pic.twitter.com/SuLMaLHUig

— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) May 12, 2026

Sandarsh ​​Krishna, a 5-foot-10-inch ASU student, was last seen wearing athletic clothing in Grand Canyon National Park.

He was reported missing on April 28, 2026, after being unaccounted for the night before.

The Rim Trail area of ​​Hermit Road, which runs between Bright Angel Lodge and Mohave Point, became the initial focus of the search because it was the last location Krishna was seen or suspected to be.

This 7.8-mile trail is known as one of the favorite routes for visitors to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

On the morning of April 28, around 7:00 a.m., a black backpack believed to belong to Krishna was handed over to hotel staff at Bright Angel Lodge.

Krishna's family, originally from India, stated that Sandarsh ​​was not the type of person to harm himself and needed clarity about what happened to the 26-year-old.

Krishna was not known to have a private vehicle within the park, leading officials to suspect he may have traveled by taxi or ride-sharing service to the Grand Canyon.

After the missing person was reported, a joint search team was immediately formed to scour the Grand Canyon area.

Nearly three dozen personnel were involved in the search operation, which lasted nearly two weeks.

This effort included ground searches by park rangers who descended into the canyon, as well as the use of drone technology to scan hard-to-reach areas.

The Grand Canyon's rugged and expansive terrain posed a significant challenge for the rescue team.

The search focused on the South Rim, specifically the Hermit Road area and surrounding trails, given the latest information regarding Krishna's whereabouts.

The involvement of various parties, including National Park Service (NPS) personnel, demonstrates the seriousness with which the Grand Canyon missing persons case is handled.

The search finally paid off on Saturday, May 9, 2026, when National Park Service (NPS) personnel recovered a body, found beneath a cliff near Verkamp's Visitor Center, on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

This discovery added to the mystery of how Krishna ended up in the area, given that he was last seen on the Rim Trail.

After being discovered, the body was immediately lifted up the cliff by a rescue team.

The body was then handed over to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office for further identification.

Confirmation of the identity was soon released, confirming that the body was that of Sandarsh ​​Krishna, the missing ASU student.

This identification brought profound sadness to Krishna's family, but also provided some closure after two weeks of uncertainty.

However, major questions regarding the cause of death and the exact timeline of the incident remain unanswered.