Heavy snowfall and torrential rain on 17th-19th October caused havoc in Uttarakhand. People got stranded in different parts of the state.
This hostile weather in Uttarakhand turns fatal for trekkers. A team set out from Harshil, Uttarakhand to reach Chitkul, Himachal Pradesh via Lamkhaga pass and went missing from 17th October 2021. The State Disaster Response Team of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh along with ITBP, Indian Army and Airforce started search and recovery operation for missing people. Today, mortals of five trekkers were recovered and brought to Harshil. These all five trekkers are from West Bengal: Anita Rawat, Tanmay Tiwari, Saurabh Ghosh, Subhayan Das and Vikash Maikal. Two bodies were brought to Chitkul side in Himachal Pradesh by ITBP this afternoon. Body identification is underway.
Two injured members of the same team, Devendra Chauhan, agency guide from Uttarkashi and Mithun Dari from West Bengal are admitted to hospital. Two members are still missing. Six supporting staff of the team safely reached Chitkul, Himachal Pradesh and joined hands with ITBP in rescue operation in HP.
Another team of trekkers on Kanakata pass route fell victim to inclement weather and five members of the team lost their lives in Sunderdunga valley. They have been identified as Sadhan, Sagar Dey, C. Sekhar Das, Pritam Ray and P S Das. One member of the team is still missing, suspected to be the guide of the team, Khilap Singh. NDRF, SDRF and Army are jointly conducting search and rescue operation in the region.
As information received from state disaster control room, 34 trekkers from Pindari glacier, 20 from Kafni, 10 from Sunderdunga valley were rescued alive today.
On the other hand, three porters, accompanying ITBP team in Indo-China border patrolling, went missing while they were returning from the patrol and lost lives due to heavy snowfall in Uttarakhand.
Photo Courtesy: Disaster Response Team and Tapan Pandit
