A family’s desperate search for two missing daughters ended in heartbreaking tragedy on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) after the bodies of sisters Vartika Verma and Deepika Verma, residents of Lucknow, were recovered following an avalanche on the Kedartal trekking route in Uttarakhand.
The group of 13 had set out from Gangotri on October 27, but heavy snowfall and avalanches cut off their route, leaving them stranded in the mountains. The 26-km trek from Gangotri to Kedartal passes through Kedar Kharak and involves narrow, rocky stretches at high altitude. The glacial lake is situated at about 4,700 metres above sea level, surrounded by high mountain peaks. He reached the district headquarters on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) with other relatives, but was eventually informed that both sisters had died. The avalanche had buried the area under 10-12 feet of snow, making rescue work slow and punishing, officials said.
The sisters were among the eight trekkers stranded near Kacchi Dhang, on their way to Kedartal. With the recovery of two more bodies, the death toll in the avalanche has reached four. Rescue teams are continuing their search for the remaining four trekkers, all friends from West Bengal. ‘Please don’t scroll. Please share’ were the words Atul Verma posted on Instagram, alongside an AI-generated photograph of his younger sisters smiling in the front row of a trekking group. He was desperately trying to draw attention to the missing trekkers and reach someone who could help. “This is not just a photograph of a trekking group. These are eight human lives, eight families waiting for their loved ones to return,” Mr. Atul Verma wrote in his appeal. He urged people to tag authorities, rescue teams and journalists, and asked them to pray for his sisters and the other trekkers. Mr. Atul Verma then rushed to Uttarkashi, hoping there was still a chance of finding his sisters safe. The Verma sisters shared a love for trekking and had explored several trails across India and Nepal. Vartika Verma, the younger sister, was a freelance influencer, while Deepika Verma worked as a graphic designer with a private firm. Both had considerable trekking experience. Just two months ago, they had returned from a trip to the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand. The family had never imagined that something both sisters loved so much would end in this way. The family’s appeal has also questioned the arrangements made by the trekking agency. Their appeal asked if weather advisories had been checked, and if the risks of the high-altitude trek were properly assessed by the trekking agency. Mr. Atul Verma also questioned whether adequate emergency arrangements and guide support had been provided. He called for an investigation into the agency’s role and demanded accountability. The search for the remaining missing trekkers continues. With snow-clearing machines unable to reach the spot, rescuers were digging by hand.
“One share could help this appeal reach someone who can make a difference,” he said. The family said they had learnt about the incident through social media and not from the trekking agency. “They were well-equipped and experienced,” Mr. Atul Verma said. Helicopters were ferrying supplies from the Matli helipad to Kedarkhadak to keep the search teams stocked, officials said.
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force and the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering had recovered four bodies till the noon on Wednesday.
The group, comprising seven trekkers and six support staff, left Gangotri on October 27 and was expected to return by October 29. The avalanche occurred on October 29. On October 30, the trekking agency sent porters and guides to clear the route.
However, snowfall and inclement weather along the trail disrupted their journey. They managed to clear about six kilometres of the trail. Five people were later found safe, while eight, two from Uttar Pradesh and five from West Bengal, and one guide, remained stranded beyond Bhojkhadak following the avalanche.
