An American woman has been found chained to a tree in an Indian forest where she spent 40 days, triggering a manhunt for her former husband.

Lalita Kayi Kumar, 49, was found by a shepherd in a forest near Sonurli village, Goa, after he heard her crying for several days.

Unable to speak following her rescue, she wrote a note that alleged her ex-husband had left her to die, adding that she had been without food for 40 days.

She also claimed she was administered an “injection for extreme psychosis which caused severe jaws locked and inability to drink any water. Need intravenous food later ... husband tied me to a tree in a forest”.

Ms Kumar was found with her legs tied to the tree but her hands unbound. A police officer said she was too weak to unchain herself. There were also reportedly marks from numerous other injuries on her body.

She was found wearing a see-through raincoat, an olive green shirt and worn-out brown trousers.

Police have registered a case of attempted murder against her former husband, who is accused of chaining her up before he escaped.

Relatives of the couple are being interviewed by police.

Ms Kumar was transferred to Goa Medical College for specialist treatment after doctors raised concerns about her mental health.

A hospital official said: “She is out of danger, but she is suffering from severe depression and other mental health illnesses. We have found medical prescriptions in her possession, suggesting she was on antidepressants.”

Documents found on Ms Kumar show that she was a resident of Tamil Nadu, a south Indian state, about 600 miles away from the forest where she was found.

It is thought that she had been living in the country for the past decade.