Search resumed for Indo-Canadian man missing in Australia

The search for the Indo-Canadian man who went missing in the Kosciuszko National Park in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) resumed Monday. The search had been abandoned June 1, ahead of heavy winter snowfall.

Prabhdeep Srawn, 25, of Brampton in the Canadian province of Ontario, was last seen May 13 parking his rented vehicle at Charlotte Pass village and entering the Kosciuszko National Park.

The New South Wales police have started search operations again, a week before 18 volunteers arrive from Canada to help locate the missing Bond University law student, The Canberra Times reported Monday.

Srawn's cousin Ruby Singh said the family was grateful to Australian authorities for allocating resources for the search operation to locate missing bush walker Srawn.

"We're hoping that they will be able to hopefully find Prabh soon and we can put this behind us," Singh was quoted as saying.

"We've put together a team of volunteers and we were hoping to deploy them after the police search was over and resolved, but unfortunately the police search had to be delayed, so some of it is going to overlap, to begin next week," she said.

Srawn's family has already spent over A$50,000 to bring a four-man Canadian search and rescue team to the area, assisted by local volunteers.

The family offered a reward to anyone who helped find Srawn but withdrew the offer later on the advice of authorities.

Srawn was reportedly trying to climb Mount Kosciuszko, the highest peak in mainland Australia, located within the park.

Srawn's sister Mandeep Srawn later found his laptop in the rented car, revealing his likely route to Mount Townsend, north-west of Mount Kosciuszko.

Srawn was a master corporal in the Canadian Armed Forces, an Australia Defence Force reservist and had bushwalking experience.

He has been in Australia for two years and was due to leave for Canada in a few months.

According to his relatives, Srawn had substantial experience in hiking and had done several hikes before.