MISSING Czech botanist in Ladakh - more info

nayan

more than 3 months have past ...... and you donot even know definitely if he left delhi at all for Leh? I cannot believe such sloppy follow-up....
even before you think of Leh and investigations in ladakh make sure that he left delhi.... I am sure this is very simple info which your embassy can help you get by contacting the right person at Jet airways/any other airlines.
Only then questions of investigation in ladakh arises.....
people in tourist trade in ladakh can speak both english and hindi fluently...... their mother tongue is ladakhi....

sirensongs

Greetings to the OP:
I am currently in Ladakh, have been here since August and expect to be here at least 2 more weeks. I am staying in Leh with an occasional foray out of town.

Jeeps are still occasionally leaving via Manali and Srinagar, but probably just for a few more days. (in answer to the roads question)

If you think I can help, please PM me.

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tichym

The direct way did not work for me. At Jet Airways they were nice, understanding but strict. I continue the "official" way.
The good news is that the local police is working. They asked at Leos usual hotel, and I also got an e-mail from a person in Leh, who was asked whether he met Leos this year. To me it means the police already knows that he made it to Leh.
Somebody here suggested to ask the local police every 2-3 days about the update. From other sources I understood that the police in India will stick to proper channel of the information flow, which for us means through the embassy. If I show up in Leh with the letter of attorney to act on behalf of Leos family, would the police talk to me?

tichym

Leos arrived to Leh as planned - confirmed. The police still does not know where he stayed in Leh. Clearly, the registration at hotels (form C) does not work 100%, as somebody was already pointing out. He did not stay at his usual hotel, because the hotel was full.
Thank you all for your helpful input, if something comes to your mind, write me here. I will keep you informed.

capt_mahajan

Thats step one. He reached Leh.

Now to retrace his footsteps, next step would be to find out which hotel he went to.

Did he ask his usual hotel (did he land up there?) for recommendations? If not, who saw him where..etc.

Rhetorical questions, but the only way is to do this and coordinate with the cops/check up what they know.

You need somebody on the ground in Leh.

PeakXV

Okay if he made it to Leh, then I'm going to assume that he got geared up and headed out on his intended itinerary - why not - from a quick google he's been there before and appears very familiar with area. At that point he either made it to the Nubra Valley (or not), is still in the valley, or continued on to Srinagar.

One thing that bothers me though is how does a scientist/botanist do any major research work when restricted to a 7 day pass and/or with a group of 4. I understand the "group of 4" stipulation can be somewhat relaxed at times ... but has been strictly enforced recently with the ongoings of that region. I guess that's something that his colleagues could better answer as to the various ways to "get around" the ubiquous restrictions of remote Indian travel.

With the above in mind and the time that has passed without any contact - it is reasonable to presume that he may be in some physical or otherwise restrictive trouble.

It might be wise to send 2 teams immediately, one to Leh the other Srinagar and work the search from both ends.

There is a researcher, Mr. Joshi who has written a recent thorough report on the biodiversity of that region, you will find his email at this link - he may well give you some valuable contact, tips or leads that will aid your search.

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machadinha

Peak, just to keep this argument and our thinking together: Why Srinagar? I don't know that area so well. Was this mentioned before as his stop-off point? Or is it a necessary stop? He may have flown or gone anywhere, am I wrong? They're all honest questions.

To the OP: Like the others, I'd really say get a guidebook asap, study up on the region regarding your own physical safety (in medical terms I mean, AMS is no picnic, there's nothing very dangerous about Ladakh in any other sense), apply for an emergency visa (that is not a separate category and I don't know about the Czech Indian embassy, but what I mean is if you have pressing reasons you can often get a visa quite quickly, and at least where I live it shouldn't take too long if you don't, could be fixed in a day really without any special reasons), and get on the first flight. And keep in touch with us, there are many members here wo can help as you can see, and a lot better than me for that matter.

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PeakXV

Mac, read the above post by Katyn - he was supposedly headed for Srinigar after Nubra. Maybe he had a plane ticket pre-booked out of Kashmir(and did or did not show up)? These are things that have to be investigated - soon!

machadinha

Yes, thanks, Peak.

Tichym, I posted this before in a less kindly fashion (then deleted it), sorry for that.

Anyway googling for your friend's name + the word "missing" throws up a lot on him being a botanist, but nothing on him being missing (except him missing some data), or not in English anyway. Have you an explanation for this? As you can see we're all willing to help, but I wouldn't like to think we're all wasting our time on it.

If you hadn't thought of it before, I'd suggest spreading the word more broadly. But my best advice would still be: Get over there! Now!

tichym

Let me to repeat this paragraph.
Leos usually organizes his travel in the following way. He flies from Delhi to Leh by plane and stays in a hotel. He buys some food, leaves spare things at the hotel and follows a track for about three weeks. He plans the track usually already at home (Nubra valley this year)but he makes a final decision according to the current situation (especially snow conditions). After return from the first track he spends several days in Leh, sends e-mails home. He did not send any e-mail this year (not standard, but still no reason to worry) He again leaves spare things at the hotel. After return from the second track he planned to return from Leh via Srinagar and Dehradun by bus to Delhi.
So the possibilities for me are:
1. He did not leave Leh
2. He did not return from the first trek
Leos did not get any permit this year (according to the police). This means that he did not go tu Nubra, he just would not without permit.
First I think it is necessary to locate him or his belongings in
Leh.

anar

a german friend and i visited nubra valley in 2001 - we got a permit at the pass (can't remember the name of the pass) - we did not get one in leh. maybe rules have changed since then.

tichym

There are two parts of the answer to this. The search for Leos started very, very late. Due to the Leos nature nobody started to worry in September after he was supposed to send e-mails after his first trek. People really started to worry only after he did not make it back on the day planned. I personally got involved with this on Monday, when I came beck from Russia. I am not sure whether at this moment more info should be spread on the web, I think the effort should be concentrated on Leh now.

The second part of the answer; if somebody feels that Leos missing may not be real, indeed I have no proof. Here is the list of all people with the same last name, the Czech police is looking for. Two are missing the others are suspects.
http://www.mvcr.cz/vozidla/patrani/seznam.php?po=M&hp=&jm=klime%9 A&bo=&st=&so=&sd=&vo=&vd=&bv=& bc=&za=and

PeakXV

The inner line permits can be got fairly easily through hotel travel agents I believe. I'm not sure if this is a booking/recording that is computerized/online or not in India yet or who is the official authorized "gatekeeper" of this information but it certainly is a key issue in determining his intended direction(if any). Unfortunately if it's like alot of things in India - it might not be an easy fact to determine. Did the police tell you how they discerned the permit non-application? i.e by sourcing official records or
examining the permit copies stack at the checkpoints in/around Nubra??

capt_mahajan

I wouldn't take that permit thing as foolproof. As others have indicated, records are imperfectly kept (Even though it is a sensitive geographical area), and cops get sloppy.

Repeating myself, somebody on the ground retracing his footsteps (with preferably a letter from the family and the embassy confirming bonafides.. this will not help legally, but will help in many other ways, including a quick determination of legitimacy) is the way to go.

Is there a quick way to determine whether he made it to Srinigar, or his next halt (Dehradun?) ... any favourite hotels there? Friends or acquaintances he may have contacted? Professional colleagues?

nayan

you have to get the permit from Leh now. yoy have to show it at a checkpost on the road to khardung-la.