Dehradun, The State Disaster Response Force initiated a search and rescue operation on Sunday for seven trekkers and one guide who went missing after becoming stranded on the Kedartal trek in Uttarkashi district.
A team from Gangotri had already reached the Kedartal area for an initial assessment. However, heavy snowfall and adverse conditions hindered their progress. Additionally, following Commandant Yaduvanshi’s instructions, another team from the SDRF battalion headquarters has been sent out, equipped with essential rescue and mountaineering gear, to ensure that the search and rescue operation can continue as soon as conditions improve. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
On October 27, a group of 13 people, consisting of seven trekkers and six support staff, set out from Gangotri for the Kedartal trek. They were scheduled to return on October 29, but adverse weather conditions, including glaciers and snowfall, blocked their route and prevented their timely return. As a result, the SDRF has decided to conduct aerial reconnaissance and search the region using a helicopter. Rescue teams departed for Gangotri on Saturday to assist the group of trekkers and support staff stranded on the Kedartal trek due to inclement weather.
Officials said that under the directives of SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi, a specialised mountaineering team has been deployed to locate the missing individuals. No clear signs of the missing trekkers or their tents were spotted during these flights, officials said. Officials said that a future action plan is being developed in coordination with the relevant agencies as part of the ongoing search operation. One of the stranded trekkers has also sustained a head injury, according to officials.
Two SDRF personnel, Head Constable Ravi Chauhan and Constable Deepak Pant, reached Harsil by helicopter on Sunday, from where they conducted two thorough aerial reconnaissance flights over the Kedartal area.
