Four senior members of an Indian-origin family have mysteriously gone missing during a road trip from New York to Pennsylvania, prompting a widespread search by local authorities. The group, consisting of Dr. Kishore Divan (89), Asha Divan (85), Shailesh Divan (86), and Gita Divan (84), was last seen on July 29 at a Burger King outlet located on Peach Street in Erie, Pennsylvania. The last confirmed trace of their presence came from a credit card transaction at this fast-food restaurant.
They were reportedly en route to the Palace of Gold in Marshall County, a prominent spiritual site established by followers of Swami Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON. Despite having reservations to stay at the religious retreat that evening, the group never arrived, and authorities confirmed they never checked in at the location.
The family was traveling in a light green Toyota Camry bearing a New York license plate (EKW2611). Efforts to reach them have so far been unsuccessful, as none of the four has answered their phones since July 29. Investigators revealed that the last signal from their cell phones was detected around 3 a.m. on Wednesday near Moundsville, West Virginia—close to their intended destination.
In response, Marshall County Sheriff Mike Dougherty announced that search operations have been ramped up. Helicopters and ground search teams have been deployed to comb the area, and multiple law enforcement agencies are following up on several leads.
This incident has stirred deep concern within the Indian-American community and beyond, as fears grow for the well-being of the elderly travelers. Their disappearance is particularly troubling given their age and the duration of time since they were last seen.
Coincidentally, the case comes just weeks after another unsettling incident involving a missing Indian woman named Simran, who vanished shortly after arriving in New Jersey in June for an arranged marriage. Authorities suspected at the time that she may have used the trip as a means to escape, raising broader concerns about the safety and intentions surrounding recent arrivals from India.
For now, the search for the Divan family continues, with authorities urging the public to report any sightings of the described vehicle or individuals.
