A 50-year-old American woman who was found chained to a tree in a forest in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra on Saturday (July 27) had tied herself up, police and her doctor told the BBC.

Lalita Kayi was rescued from the forests of Sindhudurg district 10 days ago by a shepherd in the remote village of Sonurli.

The shepherd heard her cries on Saturday evening and immediately alerted the local authorities.
When police arrived at the scene, they found her with one leg chained to a tree.

In her written statement to police, she claimed that her husband chained her and left her in the forest, where she died without food or water.

Kayi, who is currently being treated in a psychiatric facility, has not made any public statements.
However, the US Embassy also refused to comment, citing its right to privacy.

According to Saurabh Agarwal, deputy chairman of the Sindhudurg, Kayi has retracted her previous claim of being married and attributed her first statement to possible hallucinations, the BBC reported.

According to police, she further stated that she was in trouble because her visa had expired and she had run out of money, so she bought locks and chains and tied herself to the tree.

Dr. Sanghamitra Phule, head of the psychiatric hospital where Kayi is being treated, says her condition is improving.

“Kayi is now eating properly, going for walks and also exercising. She is undergoing treatment,” said Dr Phule, adding, “Her family has been traced in the US and Kayi is in contact with them.”

When the shepherd found her, she was in a bad condition. The local police administered first aid and took her to a medical centre in Sawantwadi taluka.

Due to her condition, she was referred to a more modern medical facility in Oros, Sindhudurg for further treatment.

She claimed that she had not had anything to eat for 40 days and that her husband had abandoned her in the forest after an argument.

(With contributions from agencies)