Uttarkashi, 31 October (H.S.): Twelve members of a trekking expedition, comprising seven trekkers and five support staff, were stranded on the Kedartal trekking route in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district following an avalanche. According to the district administration, four people have been rescued safely, while a search and rescue operation is underway to reach the remaining eight. Heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions blocked the trekking route, preventing the group from returning as scheduled.

According to the district administration, those still stranded include Tapas Bauri, Ratan Ghosh, Manoj Khowas, Rintu and Uday Ghosh, all residents of West Bengal; Vartika Verma and Deepika Verma from Uttar Pradesh; and Siddharth Rana, a resident of Uttarkashi.

The four people rescued safely are Rohan Rana, a resident of Uttarkashi; Nayan Bahadur and Deepak Singh, both from Nepal; and Parchanda Singh from Himachal Pradesh.

District Disaster Management Officer Shardul Gusain said the stranded group comprised seven trekkers and five support staff, of whom four had been rescued safely.

According to the information available, a 12-member team, consisting of seven trekkers and five support staff, set out from Gangotri for the Kedartal trek on October 27. The group was scheduled to return on October 29. However, adverse weather, glacier-related conditions and heavy snowfall blocked the route, preventing the team from returning on time. On October 30, contact was established with the trekkers over the phone through the trekking agency. They reported that they were safe near Kachchi Dhang and sought assistance.

District Magistrate Prashant Arya said that on October 30, the trekking agency had dispatched a team of porters and guides, which attempted to clear approximately six kilometres of the route. On Saturday, a 10-member NDRF team departed from Uttarkashi for Gangotri at 6 am. In addition, two Forest Department personnel, seven members of the trekking agency and a six-member SDRF team were also sent from Gangotri to assist in the rescue operation.

According to information received from the Range Officer of Gangotri National Park, four people, including three porters and a cook, were found safe near Kachchi Dhang. However, seven trekkers and support staff members remain stranded beyond Bhojkharak following the avalanche. Rescue teams are making continuous efforts to reach them. The avalanche has blocked the route, making the operation particularly challenging.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar