Avalanche and Severe Weather Traps Expedition

Rescue operations entered their third day on Friday as authorities intensified efforts to locate eight trekkers still missing following an avalanche in the high-altitude terrain of Uttarakhand. The expedition, consisting of a 12-member group, had set out from Gangotri for the challenging Kedartal trek on October 27 after securing requisite permissions from the Forest Department.

The team—comprising seven trekkers, a local guide, a cook, and three porters—faced severe weather conditions shortly after departure. Heavy snowfall, glacier movement, and avalanche risks ultimately blocked their return route, trapping them in the treacherous mountainous terrain.

Last Known Contact and Safe Returns

On October 30, the stranded group managed to establish brief telephonic contact with their trekking agency. They reported that they were currently safe near Kachhi Dhang and urgently requested assistance.

While the majority of the group remained stranded, four members managed to make their way back to safety. These include three Nepali porters—identified as Nayan Bahadur Singh, Hari Bahadur Shahi, and Deepak Singh—alongside Rohan Rana, a cook from Uttarkashi.

Among the eight individuals still unaccounted for are five tourists from West Bengal: Tapas Bauri (30), Ratna Ghosh (23), Manoj Khovas (39), Ritu Mandal (40), and Uday Ghosh (30). They are joined by Vartika Verma (28) from Uttar Pradesh and Siddharth Rana (25), a guide from Uttarkashi. Official reports indicate that one of the stranded trekkers has sustained a head injury.

Intensified Multi-Agency Search Operations

Search and rescue efforts commenced on October 31, spearheaded by disaster management authorities who conducted an initial aerial survey of the Kedartal region. However, early reconnaissance flights failed to spot the missing individuals or their equipment.

Operations faced additional hurdles as persistent poor weather conditions forced temporary suspensions. On November 1, two personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)—Head Constable Ravi Chauhan and Constable Deepak Pant—were airlifted to Harsil to conduct further aerial reconnaissance over the avalanche-hit zone.

Specialized teams from both the SDRF and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have since deployed ground search units, while aerial support remains on standby to locate the missing group as weather windows permit.

Reporting by Gaurav Sen for Daily News 365.