The discovery of a single shoe near a hanging bridge in Urata has led to the recovery of a body believed to be that of 37-year-old Ashneel Kumar, a resident of Boca Settlement in Labasa.
His body was found yesterday in the Qawa River in Vulovi, prompting police to contact his wife, Shayal Nitika Nand, to confirm the heartbreaking news.
Mr Kumar was last seen around 7 on Saturday evening leaving home dressed in a black jacket and shorts, reportedly heading to a nearby birthday gathering.
Concern escalated when his wife was unable to reach him at around 2am, leading to a missing person’s report filed at the Labasa Police Station the following day.
Initial searches found a pair of his shoes and an umbrella near a suspension bridge, along with signs of disturbance on the grass.
Further search efforts uncovered another shoe lodged on a branch in the flooded river, suggesting he had fallen in.
Described as a devoted husband and father of two, Mr Kumar was the family’s sole breadwinner.
“He could swim, but the river was very strong because it was flooded,” Ms Nand shared.
“He was a very loving husband and a good father,” she said.
Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.
