A body found yesterday in the Schuylkill River by a Philadelphia Marathon spectator has been identified as missing Engineering graduate student Anirban Majumdar.
"It has just been confirmed that [it] was the body of our student," University spokeswoman Phyllis Holtzmann said shortly after noon today. "The medical examiner's office reports that the post-mortem exam showed no evidence of trauma or foul play."
The body was found a few minutes before 8 a.m. yesterday near the Spring Garden Street Bridge and West River Drive, officials said.
This was Majumdar's first year here at Penn. He was a native of Calcutta, India.
Majumdar was last seen the night of Nov. 2, his 25th birthday. He was reported missing the following Monday by Engineering graduate student Narayanan Mahesh, a roommate of Majumdar's on the 4500 block of Locust Street.
According to Holtzmann, Majumdar's mother has been notified of her son's death. Arrangements for the family are being made by the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life.
"This is just an awful, awful tragedy and we're thinking and praying for Anirban's family and friends," Holtzmann said. "We understand how difficult it is to come to terms with this kind of sudden loss of a young and promising life."
Holtzmann urged students in need of counseling to contact Counseling and Psychological Services at (215) 898-7021.
Previous articles: 11/09/01 Engineering graduate student reported missing
11/13/01 Police still searching for missing student
11/15/01 Police search for leads in case of missing student
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