UPDATED 4pm
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Family and friends of Bigul Pandit are coming to terms with the news human remains found in the Murray River on Thursday are likely that of the 21-year-old.
While police are awaiting confirmation through forensic testing, they believe the body - found by fishermen about 100 metres upstream of the Kremur Street boat ramp - is Mr Pandit.
Investigators contacted Mr Pandit's family after a crime scene was established about 5pm on Thursday.
Detective Inspector Winston Woodward said fishermen noticed what appeared to be human remains in tree roots and contacted police.
"At this early stage, we do believe they are possibly that of Mr Pandit who has gone missing back in January," he said.
"It is a sad day for the family involved as they now have to wait until we confirm the identification.
"It may bring them some closure, but we can not 100 per cent identify the remains are that of Mr Pandit."
Guru Ghuman, who owns Guru's Star Cafe, said the young man became like family to him in the four months they worked closely together.
"I feel terrible ... it's not a confirmation yet," he said.
"He will always stay in people's [hearts]."
"If that's him, it's good for closure, for grief, family can move on."
At the time of Mr Pandit's disappearance in January, Mr Ghuman closed his cafe out of respect to the 21-year-old.
Coroner Rodney Brender found during an inquest in August there was no doubt that Mr Pandit drowned after failing to resurface from the Murray River at Noreuil Park on the evening of January 9.
Police, VRA, SES and others spent more than 300 hours searching for him and last examined the Kremur Street boat ramp area, in May.
"It is a long way from where Mr Pandit originally entered the water, but with the current that is fairly strong and increases and decreases in levels of the water, it's not unusual for a body to travel that far," Detective Inspector Woodward said.
"In this case it has taken a few months for remains to be discovered.
"The emergency services personnel did their job greatly, and I thank them for that."
The remains will now be transported to the Department of Forensic Medicine in Newcastle and could take time to formerly identify.
The Kremur Street boat ramp area has reopened.
PREVIOUSLY
9am
An investigation is underway following the discovery of human remains in the Murray River, Albury.
Police said about 4.40pm on Thursday officers attached to Murray River Police District were called to the Murray River approximately 100 metres east of Kremur Street, West Albury, after reports unidentified human remains were located in the water near the boat ramp by a passer-by.
A crime scene was established at the location and the remains have been sent for forensic examination.
Police said the believe the remains may belong to a 21-year-old man who went missing in the Murray River at West Albury in January this year.
Bigul Pandit, 21 of Nepal, was swimming with two friends when he went underwater and failed to resurface near the Noreuil Park boat on January 9.
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Police divers and Border VRA have conducted extensive searches for his body.
Police inquiries are continuing.
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