Mortal remains of Sandeep and Bhaskar brought down to Kaza

Dream Wanderlust | Sept 30 , 2021

The mortal remains of Sandeep Kumar Thakurata (38) and Bhaskar Dev Mukhopadhyay (61) were brought down to Kaza today afternoon by the rescue team. The Kaza Administration is now planning to send them to their home Kolkata.

Sandeep Kumar Thakurata and Bhaskar Dev Mukhopadhyay, lost their lives on 25^th September during an expedition near Khamengar Glacier, Himachal Pradesh. Other team members along with local guides and porters got stranded at about an altitude of 17830ft.

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Bhaskar Dev Mukhopadhyay

Sandeep Kumar Thakurata

A 32-member team was formed by ITBP, Army, and Dogra Scout to carry out the rescue operation on 27^th September. They meet the trekkers who themselves were coming down on 28^th September evening. Doctors in the rescue team treated two frostbitten climbers. On 29^th September Rescue team brought all members (16) to Kaza safely.

Rescue team at Khamenger Glacier

This Trek team from Arette Mountaineering Foundation, West Bengal led by experienced mountaineer and explorer Debasish Bardhan started from Batal on 15th September 2021 and had a plan to cross the Khamengar glacier to reach Kaza. They were trying to open a new route to connect Lahul Himalaya and Spiti Himalaya.

However, they have successfully completed the traverse of the Bara Sighri Glacier and then crossed Parahio Col to get down to the Khamengar Valley and entered the Khamengar Gorge. According to Indian explorer Anindya Mukherjee, they should have encountered a series of abseils while descending the gorge. While they were rappelling the abseils, two senior members got completely exhausted. One member perished on the 24th and the other on the 25th of September 2021. One of the young members brought the news all the way to Kaza on 26^th September and organised the rescue operation.

Team members reached Kaza yesterday