Fundraiser Helps Family Of Man Missing In Suffield

SUFFIELD, CT — Nearly eight weeks after Manoj Bagga disappeared, friends are raising money to help his wife and two children pay for groceries, housing and healthcare while they wait for answers.

A GoFundMe organized by Ritu Goel says Bagga has not been found since he went missing Aug. 7. The campaign had raised $18,128 toward a $35,000 goal from 181 donations as of about 9:06 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30.

According to the fundraiser, Bagga was last seen early that morning near the Route 190 bridge over the Connecticut River in Suffield. His son, Kunal, helped search for him by kayak and on foot along the riverbanks, the organizers wrote.

In their original missing-person appeal, Suffield police said Bagga, 52, was last in contact around 5 a.m. Aug. 7, as Patch previously reported.

The fundraiser describes a family now struggling to cover expenses after losing Bagga’s income. His employment ended, along with the health insurance covering his wife, Anju, and daughter, Kashvi, according to the organizers.

Anju works for hourly wages and is now largely supporting the household on her own, the campaign says. Donations will help cover groceries, utilities, mortgage payments, health-related expenses and other daily costs.

Kashvi is a high school senior applying to colleges this year, according to the fundraiser.

The campaign was signed by friends Ritu, Dipali, Sandeep, Vipul, Sachin and Manish. Organizers are asking people who cannot donate to share the fundraiser.

Police previously described Bagga as about 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 155 pounds, with thinning brown hair, dark eyes and a scar on his right eyebrow. He may have been wearing a green polo shirt and dark shorts.

Anyone with information that could help locate him is asked to call Suffield police at 860-668-3870.

For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.