[imagesource: Sawantwadi Rescue Team]

An American woman who journeyed to India a decade ago to immerse herself in yoga and meditation has revealed a harrowing tale of survival.

She claims to have endured 40 days without food and water, shackled to a tree by her former husband.

US citizen Lalita Kayi Kumar was found starving, emaciated, and filthy on Saturday by a local shepherd in a remote forest in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra about 25 miles from Goa, according to reports.

The shepherd broke an iron chain that was used to secure her to the tree. Police said she was severely dehydrated and unable to speak.

Image: Sindhudurg District Hospital

The 50-year-old had apparently relocated to India 10 years ago to study yoga and meditation in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Express reported, citing local police. Kumar allegedly met and married an Indian man in Tamil Nadu, and lived in the state until the couple’s relationship faltered.

On Tuesday, investigators opened an attempted murder case against Kumar’s former husband, whose name was not disclosed to the public.

The Telegraph notes that the police case is based on a letter written by the American woman, who has not yet talked about her ordeal. She wrote a note that alleged her ex-husband had left her to die, adding that she had been without food for 40 days.

She also claimed she was administered an “injection for extreme psychosis which caused severe jaws locked and inability to drink any water. Need intravenous food later … husband tied me to a tree in a forest”.

She was found with her legs tied to the tree but her hands unbound, wearing a see-through raincoat, an olive green shirt and worn-out brown trousers. A police officer said she was too weak to unchain herself and that there were also reportedly marks from numerous other injuries on her body.

Image: Sindhudurg District Hospital

However, police are said to be sceptical that Kumar could have survived for 40 days without food or water.

“When we discovered her, she was seriously dehydrated. It appears that she was stuck there for a minimum of 48 hours. Although she was mute,” said Amol Chavan, an inspector at Sawantwadi Police Station.

“She is currently not in a position to talk. We are trying to get more details about her background,” said Saurabh Agarwal, superintendent of police in Sindhudurg, the area where she was found.

Kumar had her American passport with her when she was found along with various personal belongings, including an identity card with a Tamil Nadu address. She is said to be out of danger but suffering from psychiatric issues.

A hospital official said: “She is out of danger, but she is suffering from severe depression and other mental health illnesses. We have found medical prescriptions in her possession, suggesting she was on antidepressants.”

Police said she had been living in India for at least 10 years and that her visa had expired. They also confirmed a registered case of attempted murder against her former husband, who is accused of chaining her up before he escaped.

[sources:telegraph&nypost&dailybeast]