Search continues for two missing IU students at Lake Monroe

By Liz DeSantis - WFIU

This story will be updated.

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

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources identified the two students as Siddhant Shah, 19, and Aryan Vaidya, 20.

Shah is an international student, and Vaidya is from Ohio.

The students were boating with 20 other friends Saturday afternoon before anchoring to swim according to a press release.

According to Deputy Jeff Brown of the Monroe County Sheriff’s department, the group was on a double-decker “party” rental boat.

Only some of the students on the boat were wearing life vests. Friends unsuccessfully tried to help the two men when they failed to resurface. 

Rescue units used sonar and scuba divers to search the area Saturday. They suspended the search when it got dark.

Conservation Officers are resuming their search this morning.

Officers found alcohol on the boat Saturday, but officials have not determined whether alcohol was a factor in the students' disappearance at this time.

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.