Navy Officer's Mysterious Disappearance Ends in Tragedy at Matheran Gorge

The decomposed body of Surajsingh Amarpalsingh Chauhan, a 33-year-old Navy Master Chief from Mumbai, was discovered in a gorge at Matheran hill station, police reported Thursday. The officer was missing for over a week following a solo trek, igniting a thorough police investigation.

Chauhan vanished during the Bhivpuri-Garbett trek on September 7. After he failed to return and his phone was unreachable, his family reported him missing at Cuffe Parade Police Station. This spurred a search operation involving police, forest department, and rescue agencies.

The breakthrough came when a trekker notified police of a body in a gorge. Rescuers recovered the body, which was verified via CCTV footage of Chauhan walking alone. An autopsy is pending, with the cause of death yet undetermined. Authorities have ruled out foul play, labeling the case an accidental death.