VIJAYAWADA: A student from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh and pursuing his MS degree in Houston, Texas, has allegedly gone missing during a solo trip to Alaska. Karasani Hari Krishna Reddy, 24, embarked on a solo trip during the Christmas holidays on Dec 22, travelling on public transport. He last contacted his friends and family on Dec 30.According to his friends in the US, Hari stayed in a hotel in Denali, Alaska. His mobile signal was last located on Dec 31 in Denali.
His friends, with the help of local police, have posted missing person notices on social media platforms, urging people to inform them in case they came across him. The temperature in Alaska during Dec 31-Jan 1 had dipped to around minus 40 degrees Celsius. Tourists normally avoid visiting Alaska during extreme winters due to its harsh conditions. It is not clear why Hari chose to visit Alaska during this time of the year and whether his trip had anything to do with participation in winter sports or witnessing the Northern Lights.His friends, who posted messages on Facebook and Instagram, however, said they do not know the purpose of Hari’s visit, except that he told them he was going on a vacation and would return in two weeks. They said Hari did not know driving and usually depended on public transport. Before leaving Houston, Hari told them he would be staying in Denali and would return by Jan 3 or 4. His roommates initially assumed he couldn’t contact them due to lack of network in mountainous areas. But when they checked his credit card records, they found he had made a transaction using a local cab facility.Alaska State Troopers (local police) said Hari, who was reported missing on Jan 3, was last seen leaving Aurora Denali Lodge on Dec 31. Police suspect Hari may have travelled to the Fairbanks area.When TOI contacted Andhra Pradesh Non Resident Telugu Society officials in the state, they said they hadn’t received any message from Hari’s parents seeking help. They said they were in contact with local representatives in US.Though Alaska with its unique weather phenomenon and scenic beauties, including the Northern Lights, attracts hundreds of tourists, mostly adventurers, it is also wrought with lurking dangers. According to US officials, nearly 2,000 people go missing every year in Alaska. In many cases, the bodies are never found.
