Search Continues for Missing Hiker in Strathcona Park

Keshav Jindal, a 25-year-old hiker, has been unaccounted for since Monday afternoon in Strathcona Park, a national park on Vancouver Island that spans nearly 618,000 acres.

Jindal went missing approximately four hours into a hike that began at Mount Washington. He and his hiking partner decided to separate near Circlet Lake, where Jindal indicated he would start his descent. He sent a video message around 3:15 PM on Monday, but subsequent searches have not yielded any signs of him.

As of Wednesday, helicopters and seven search and rescue teams have been deployed to comb the area, navigating challenging terrain. Concerns are growing due to Jindal's limited supplies for surviving in the wilderness. The search efforts are complicated by the fact that many helicopters are currently engaged in firefighting operations across British Columbia.