An Indian family of four has been missing in the US for almost a week now. Two days after Gujarat resident Thottapally Babu Subramaniam tweeted to Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, urging her to help locate his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, authorities in the US are fearing the worst.

The family of Sandeep Thottapilly, originally from Kerala, was reported missing in the US state of California while on a road trip. It has now emerged that an SUV matching their vehicle was believed to be swept away by a flood-swollen river, according to a media report. Sandeep (42) his wife Soumya (38), son Siddhant (12) and daughter Saachi (9), who lived in the southern Californian city of Valencia, were reportedly travelling from Portland to San Jose, with a planned stop to see relatives in San Jose.

“My son Sandeep Thottapilly is residing in California, USA. He and his family are reported missing since last Thursday. Would request your good office to take up… this matter with concerned authorities in USA and help find my son and his family as soon as possible. requesting your kind cooperation. The photo of the missing family is attached herewith. we have taken help of Facebook post to reach out to more and more people in California…,” Babu Subramaniam Thottapily tweeted on April 9.

Respected Sushma Swaraj ji, I am a senior citizen and resident of Surat, Gujarat. My son Sandeep Thottapilly is residing in California, USA. He and his family are reported missing since last Thursday. Would request your good office to take up

— THOTTAPILLY BABU SUBRAMANIAM (@ThottapillyS) April 9, 2018

Replying to this message, Sushma Swaraj tweeted: “I am in constant touch with our Consulate in San Francisco. They are coordinating with the Police. Rest assured.  We will spare no effort.”

I am in constant touch with our Consulate in San Francisco. They are coordinating with the Police. Rest assured. We will spare no effort. https://t.co/zmbQd1zs8P

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 11, 2018

She also said she had asked for a report from India’s Consul General in San Francisco.

I have asked for a report from our Consul General in San Francisco. @CGISFO https://t.co/tsGkUyJJlq

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 10, 2018

Local residents have given a community action call, urging Indian Consulate officials, community leaders, family members and friends to get together and form an action plan to find the family.

pic.twitter.com/0G1RFrxd5T

— Annie (@LibuAnnie) April 10, 2018

Meanwhile, a search operation is on for a maroon Honda Pilot that went down an embankment around 1.10 pm on April 6 on a highway (101) near Dora Creek, according to the Cailfornia Highway Patrol (CHP).

The vehicle is the same kind that the Thottapilly family owned.

A notice posted on Facebook stated that the family’s relatives in San Jose last heard from the family on April 5, and reported them missing over the weekend after they did not show up for the planned visit.

The San Jose Police Department confirmed that a missing persons report was filed on April 8 involving the Indian family.

Their last known location was the Klamath-Redwood National and State Parks area, roughly 80 kms north of Eureka.

After an SUV matching that description went off the roadway on Friday near Dora Creek, first-responders and rescue crews arrived to find the vehicle “was completely submerged in the Eel River” amid heavy rains, the CHP said.

“Due to the strong river current, and the poor clarity, the vehicle was unable to be located” on Friday, adding that authorities “have continuously searched and monitored the river in attempts to located the vehicle”, with assistance from a CHP helicopter.

CHP Officer William Wunderlich told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal affirmed that the vehicle they were searching for is similar to the one the Indian family was last known to be driving.

“Based on our preliminary investigation and witness statements, we believe the vehicle was a 2016 or 2017 Honda Pilot maroon in color,” Wunderlich told the news outlet, adding: “This vehicle and the missing person’s vehicle are similar but, at this time, we are unable to confirm its the same vehicle.”

Sandeep works as a vice-president for Union Bank, according to his Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

With PTI