Shepherd finds American woman chained in jungle — she had been there for 40 days

Lalita Kayi Kumar, a 50-year-old US citizen, would have lost her life if not for an Indian shepherd who happened to stumble upon her and called for help. "My husband chained me to a tree in the forest," she said.

The American woman with an expired passport was taken to a local hospital. According to local media, she spent the last decade with her husband, Satish. He now faces charges including attempted murder and false imprisonment.

According to the latest reports, Lalita is unable to speak due to extreme exhaustion and malnutrition. She wrote about what happened to her in a letter. From it, the authorities learned that it was none other than her partner who was behind her abandonment. "He chained me to a tree in the forest," the journalists quote the woman as saying.

Several people have already been questioned in connection with the case, and the investigation extends beyond the Sindhudburg district, about 450 km from Mumbai, where Kumar was found. She had no chance of freeing herself from the iron chain.

"Her right leg swelled up. She was severely dehydrated, unable to speak," writes Lokmat Times. The American's life was saved by a cattle herder who heard disturbing sounds coming from the jungle.

The police arrived at the scene and used a chain cutter to break the chain. Lalita was sent to a primary health care centre, and then doctors at the hospital treated her.

"She is not in danger," a police officer told The Telegraph. "The medics said she has mental problems. We discovered prescriptions on her," he added. Although the woman is doing well, she is still under observation. We read that she is not strong enough to give evidence.

It was established that she was born in the US but lived in Goa, a district neighbouring the one where she was imprisoned.

This article was originally published by Onet.