A 72-year-old Indian-origin woman who disappeared from her home in California in August has been found dead in an irrigation canal, more than two months after an extensive search failed to locate her.
Ajit Kaur’s remains were discovered on October 24 by an employee of the Turlock Irrigation District (TID) conducting a routine patrol of the canal system in Ceres, California. The body was found in the Lower Lateral 3 Canal near Central Avenue and Keyes Road.
The Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office confirmed her identity on October 27, according to the Ceres Police Department. The discovery came after investigators had already examined canal areas in the region while trying to trace her movements.
Kaur was reported missing on August 23 from the Casa Grande Apartment complex in Ceres. She was last seen at approximately 1:45 a.m. near Whitmore Avenue and Mitchell Road.
Police said information gathered during the investigation led detectives to believe that Kaur “may have entered” the Turlock Irrigation District canal located east of the apartment complex.
Earlier searches failed to locate her
The search for Kaur involved multiple agencies and specialised equipment. Ceres Police said officers and detectives canvassed the surrounding area, including canal sections throughout Ceres, and pursued leads that could help establish her whereabouts.
The department also sought assistance from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, which provided a K9 unit trained to track and locate missing persons.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department Dive Unit joined the operation and deployed an underwater remote sonar drone to scan the canals. Investigators also worked with Turlock Irrigation District personnel to map possible water routes and examine whether Kaur could have travelled through the canal system to the district’s regulating reservoir.
Despite these efforts, she was not found during the initial searches.
The canal employee discovered her remains during one of the district’s multiple daily patrols. Officers responding to the location confirmed that the remains were human before they were transferred to the coroner’s office for identification.
The police department said it had “pursued available leads and conducted extensive efforts to locate” Kaur.
Family feared she had fallen into canal
Kaur’s family had raised concerns about her disappearance, saying she had gone out for her regular walk but never returned.
Her daughter-in-law, Raman Atwal, described the circumstances as unusual, particularly because Kaur had left without essential belongings.
“No phone, no IDs, nothing whatsoever,” Atwal said. “That’s very unusual for her.”
Family members said Kaur was visually impaired in one eye and did not have access to a vehicle. They had feared she might have fallen into the canal.
The discovery has brought an end to the search but leaves questions about the circumstances of her death. The police department has not announced a cause of death, and the investigation remains ongoing.
In a statement, Ceres Police said: “The Ceres Police Department extends its heartfelt condolences to Kaur’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with them as they navigate this loss.”
The department added: “We are grateful to the agencies and personnel who assisted throughout this investigation.”
Police have asked anyone with additional information to contact Detective Sergeant Berber at (209) 538-5672.
Arun Kumar N