Post by : Jyoti Gupta

A spiritual journey meant to bring peace and togetherness turned into a heart-wrenching tragedy for an Indian-origin family from Buffalo, New York. Four members of the Divan family, who had gone missing during a road trip to a Hindu temple in West Virginia, were found dead after their car was discovered at the bottom of a steep embankment late Saturday night. The victims were identified as Dr. Kishore Divan, his wife Asha Divan, Shailesh Divan, and Gita Divan. Their lifeless bodies were recovered from their Toyota Camry, which had crashed along a remote stretch of Big Wheeling Creek Road in Marshall County, West Virginia.

The family had been planning to visit Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, a well-known religious and cultural site nestled in the hills of Moundsville. Considered one of the most beautiful Hindu temples outside India, it draws visitors from all over the United States and beyond. The Divans left their home in Buffalo, New York, and were believed to be driving south towards their spiritual destination. Unfortunately, they never made it there.

After the family was reported missing earlier in the week, their disappearance sparked concern among relatives and friends. A missing persons report was filed in Buffalo, and authorities across multiple states were alerted. Surveillance cameras later helped provide some clues. The family was last seen alive at a Burger King in Erie, Pennsylvania. Footage from the fast food outlet showed two members of the family entering the restaurant. Their credit card transaction at the location was the last confirmed financial activity. Following that, a license plate reader operated by a Pennsylvania State Trooper detected their vehicle traveling south on Interstate 79, the highway that connects Pennsylvania to West Virginia. It was believed they were still on track toward their original destination.

However, the trail went cold soon after. Cellphone data later revealed that all four phones associated with the family stopped transmitting signals around 3 a.m. on Wednesday. The last known activity placed them in the general area of Moundsville and Wheeling in West Virginia. After that moment, no communication came from any of the passengers, and their phones remained silent. The complete lack of contact over several days caused growing worry among authorities, friends, and the local Indian-American community.

Law enforcement agencies, including the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, began a multi-agency search effort to locate the missing family. Investigators combed through rural roads, riverbanks, and other areas, hoping to find any sign of the Divans or their vehicle. They also shared images of the car and pictures of the family members on public bulletins and social media, urging the public to come forward with any information. Despite these efforts, days passed without any leads.

The turning point came late on Saturday, August 2, when officers finally located the Toyota Camry. The vehicle was found down a steep and heavily wooded slope near Big Wheeling Creek Road — a remote and quiet area with sharp curves and limited visibility. The car had left the road and crashed down the embankment, hiding it from plain sight. Authorities confirmed that all four people inside the vehicle had died in the accident.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Sheriff Mike Dougherty, who confirmed the tragic discovery, said that further details would be made public once the investigation concludes. It is still unclear whether road conditions, weather, driver error, or a mechanical failure caused the accident. What is known is that the family’s car veered off a difficult stretch of road in the middle of the night and ended up in a place so hidden that it took days of searching to find them.

This tragic event has left many in shock. The Divan family was known to be kind, spiritual, and deeply involved in their community. The news of their untimely deaths has caused sorrow not just in Buffalo, where they lived, but also in West Virginia and beyond. Messages of sympathy and mourning have poured in from friends, religious organizations, and members of the Indian-American diaspora across the United States.

The heartbreaking incident serves as a painful reminder of how quickly a joyful journey can turn into a nightmare. The family set out on a trip filled with faith and hope, seeking peace and spiritual nourishment. What awaited them instead was a tragic end that has left an entire community grieving.

As investigations continue, the priority for officials now is to understand what went wrong. For the family and friends of the victims, the focus is on remembering the lives that were lost and finding ways to cope with the overwhelming grief. The temple they were on their way to — a symbol of devotion and beauty — will now also be a symbol of loss for all those who knew the Divans. Their memory, however, will live on in the hearts of those who loved them.

Indian-origin family