Extra resources called in to search for Katanning father Ajit Khan six days after car found in flood waters

Water Police will head to the flood zone near Wagin tomorrow to join the search for father-of-three Ajit Khan if he is not found today.

Police officers resumed the search at first light this morning, scouring the banks of the Buchanan River in Piesseville looking for signs of the 34-year-old Katanning man.

Mr Khan was reported missing about 11.30am last Tuesday after his green Mitsubishi Triton ute was found submerged in flood waters on Balagin Road east of Wagin.

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Heavy rainfall at the weekend drove the water depth up to one metre.

“The water is still turbulent...it’s still dirty and visibility is poor,” Great Southern Police Inspector Alex Ryan said today.

“We are anticipating that the water level will drop and the flow will stop which may improve visibility into the water and conditions for search.”

Clear weather is forecast for the rest of the week, with the water level already dropping 40cm overnight.

Insp. Ryan said police would look to manually map the area through aerial photographs taken by a police drone once the water level drops.

A police drone has already been in operation over the weekend, searching east to where the Buchanan River meets the Arthur River.

Last week, police divers, a police helicopter, a police drone, police horses, two flood boats, SES volunteers and local farmers had been part of a search for the missing father of three.

A police family liaison officer has spent the week with Ajit Khan’s family in Katanning, keeping them up-to-date on the search.

Ten members of the family were invited to the scene by police on Thursday morning.

Police confirmed on Friday that the search had moved into a recovery phase.

They have have asked for nearby farmers to search their properties in case Mr Khan managed to make it onto land.

Anyone who might have picked up Mr Khan or seen him in the area is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.