Bodies of two missing men recovered at Monroe Lake (Monroe County)

The two men have been missing since Saturday

The bodies of Siddhant Shah, 19, and Aryan Vaidya, 20, have been recovered from Monroe Lake.

This morning at approximately 11:23 a.m., Indiana Conservation Officers located and recovered the bodies of the victims in 18 feet of water in an area east of the Paynetown Marina. 

Release as of April 18, 2023, at 10:05 a.m.

Conservation officers will continue the search today at Monroe Lake for the two missing men using multiple types of side scan sonar, remote operated vehicles (ROV) and scuba divers.

Search crews battled heavy wind and waves on the water yesterday. Today’s subsiding wind conditions will aid in the search and recovery operation.

Release as of April 17, 2023, at 9:23 a.m.

The search for two men who went missing Saturday afternoon while swimming at Monroe Lake is ongoing.

Crews used side scan sonar and scuba divers all day Sunday to search the area where the men were last seen in the water. High winds and rough water created obstacles for officers conducting the search.

Conservation officers are back on the water this morning to continue the search and recovery operation.

Release as of April 16, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.

Indiana Conservation Officers are resuming the search this morning for two missing Indiana University students in the water at Monroe Lake. 

Siddhant Shah, 19, and Aryan Vaidya, 20, were boating on a pontoon with friends on Monroe Lake yesterday afternoon when the group anchored to swim. When both men did not resurface, friends tried to help but were unsuccessful.

Rescue units utilizing side scan sonar and scuba divers searched the area before suspending search operations for the night due to darkness. Conservation Officers will resume their search this morning. 

Indiana University Student Services assisted with transporting the group back to campus and providing counselling services.

Units assisting in the search include the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Bloomington Police Department, IU Police Department, Monroe County Dive Team, IU Dean of Students Office, Monroe Fire Protection District, and IU Health EMS.