Eight people missing after avalanche and snowstorm on Uttarakhand trek
Search operations have resumed in Uttarkashi district after weather conditions improved following the disappearance of a trekking expedition.
Eight people, including seven trekkers, are missing after an avalanche and sudden snowstorm hit a group during a Kedartal trek in Uttarakhand, according to reports from The Assam Tribune and Hindustan Times. The incident occurred at an altitude of approximately 4,000 metres while the group was navigating mountainous terrain.
The missing group includes five individuals from the Bankura district of West Bengal, identified as Tapas Bauri, Ratan Ghosh, Rintu Mandal, Uday Ghosh, and Manoj Khawas. Two other missing persons are from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, and one is from Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand.
Search operations resumed on Tuesday morning after being suspended due to poor weather, the Uttarkashi district disaster management office said. Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering are conducting the search in difficult conditions.
A 12-member expedition team, which included four Sherpas and an assistant, had set out from Gangotri. While four members reached their destination on October 30, they reported that the remaining eight were missing.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed concern for the trekkers and stated that the state government is coordinating with Uttarakhand authorities and the SDRF. He said the state administration is providing logistical and emotional support to the families in Bankura.
Divisional Forest Officer Jeevan Mohan Dagade said that permits for treks above 4,000 metres are currently suspended until weather conditions improve.