From The Indian Express · Vidheesha Kuntamalla · · 2m
Four bodies found in Uttarakhand avalanche; four still missing
Rescue teams recover four bodies from the Kedartal trek after an avalanche and heavy snowfall trapped a 12-member expedition on October 29.
In brief
Rescue teams recover four bodies from the Kedartal trek after an avalanche and heavy snowfall trapped a 12-member expedition on October 29. Four bodies have been recovered from an avalanche on the Kedartal trek in Uttarakhand on October 29; four expedition members remain missing. Originally reported by The Indian…
Avalanche hits trekking expedition
An avalanche and heavy snowfall struck a twelve-member expedition on the Kedartal trek in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district on October 29. The group included seven trekkers, one guide, one cook and three porters.
Four bodies recovered so far
Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force and Nehru Institute of Mountaineering recovered two more bodies on Wednesday, bringing the total to four. Two are men and two are women.
Who was in the expedition
The eight initially missing included five trekkers from West Bengal, two women from Uttar Pradesh, and a local guide from Uttarkashi. Four members, three porters and a cook, were rescued on October 31.
Permission granted despite weather alert
The expedition set out from Gangotri on October 27 after obtaining Forest Department permission for a three-day trek.A weather alert warning of adverse conditions came around 10.
Avalanches at multiple locations
On October 30, authorities learned the expedition had been caught in heavy snowfall and avalanches while returning from Kedartal.According to the Forest Department, avalanches had occurred at around ten to twelve locations along the route.
Search teams spot belongings
On November 2, rescue teams spotted tents, bags and other belongings near the Kedarkharak area, but could not find any of the missing members.
Difficult terrain hampers rescue
The search has been particularly challenging because of difficult terrain and heavy snow accumulation. Rescue personnel are having to manually dig through the snow, with snow-removal equipment proving difficult to deploy in the affected area.
Kedartal trail sees fewer visitors
Kedartal, a glacial lake at approximately four thousand seven hundred twenty metres altitude, is accessed through an eighteen-kilometre trekking route from Gangotri.
Four trekkers and guide remain missing
Search operations continue for the four remaining members of the expedition: four trekkers and one guide. The bodies recovered were airlifted to the Matli helipad in Uttarkashi by rescue teams.
The essence
Four bodies have been recovered from an avalanche on the Kedartal trek in Uttarakhand on October 29; four expedition members remain missing.
