KEY POINTS

  • Jetal Agnihotri was hiking at the Zion National Park with some friends
  • Rescuers found an injured hiker, who was taken to a hospital for treatment
  • NWS issued a warning of increased risk of flash flooding in the area

Search and rescue operations were underway to locate a 29-year-old woman, who went missing Friday following a flash flood at Zion National Park in Utah.

According to a statement issued by the National Park Service, the missing hiker has been identified as Jetal Agnihotri of Tucson, Arizona.

She was reported missing after she failed to return to her lodging following a hike in the Narrows on Friday afternoon, the park service added.

"Zion National Park received a report around 2:15 p.m. on Friday, August 19 of multiple hikers being swept off their feet by a flash flood in the Narrows near the Temple of Sinawava," the statement read. "Later in the evening, the National Park Service received a report of a hiker, Jetal Agnihotri of Tucson, Arizona, who was overdue from a trip in the Narrows."

Park rangers immediately responded to the incident, and monitored the river through Friday night. Furthermore, additional searchers were deployed on Aug. 20.

"More than 20 Zion Search and Rescue Team members are working in and near the Virgin River searching for this missing person," the news release said.

The park rangers also found an injured hiker several hundred yards downstream of the Temple of Sinawava. The visitor was promptly hospitalized for medical attention, NBC News reported.

Jeff Bradybaugh, Zion National Park superintendent, said park rangers and other members of the Zion Search and Rescue Team are continuing their efforts to locate the missing Arizona woman.

Authorities have closed down the Narrows and Riverside Walk of the National Park until further notice to carry out search and rescue operations for the missing hiker.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a warning of an increased risk of flash flooding for southern Utah National Parks and recreation areas.

"Make sure to check in with local visitor centers or ranger stations before heading out and have a plan if threatening weather approaches," the NWS tweeted on Sunday.

View of Zion National Park
A general view of Zion National Park, Utah, on Feb. 9, 2017. A hiker was rescued from a Zion trail after trapping in quicksand and spending and spending a night in frigid conditions before rescuers were able to extract him from the site. RHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

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