4 Indians missing in US; father seeks Swaraj's help

The father of an LA-based Indian who has been missing with his wife and two children after a road trip in the United States has requested External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to help trace them.

In a tweet, Surat resident Babu Subramaniam Thottapilly posted a photograph of his son Sandeep Thottapilly, his daughter-in-law and their two children, and urged Swaraj to take the matter up with the authorities in the US.

Sandeep (42), his wife Soumya (38), son Siddhant (12) and daughter Saachi (9) went missing in the US state of California on Thursday while travelling from Portland to San Jose.

The authorities in the US fear the worst for an SUV, matching the missing family's vehicle, was believed to have been swept away by a swollen river, according to a media report in the US.

Sandeep worked as a vice-president with the Union Bank and lived in Los Angeles with his family.

The banker's father, originally from Kerala and living in Gujarat's Surat for several years, was in a state of shock and unwilling to speak to PTI.

Sandeep grew up in the Gujarat city and settled down in the US over 15 years ago, said a relative when contacted by PTI over the phone.

"Till now we have not received any information about the family's whereabouts from the Indian embassy in the US," the relative said.

Babu Thottapilly had earlier tweeted, "Respected Sushma Swaraj ji, I am a senior citizen and resident of Surat, Gujarat. My son Sandeep Thottapilly is residing in California, USA. He and his family are reported missing since last Thursday.

"Would request your good office to take up this matter with concerned authorities in USA and help find my son and his family as soon as possible. requesting your kind cooperation."
"Till that time I would like to inform you that kindly do the needful from your end to ensure that law authorities are able to track him and his family."