A trekking expedition in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand has turned tragic. Nine members of a 22-member trekking group from Karnataka have tragically lost their lives after getting lost due to adverse weather during the Sahastra Tal trek in Uttarkashi. The remaining 13 trekkers have been successfully rescued.Joint Rescue Operation LaunchedA joint rescue operation involving the Indian Air Force (IAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local authorities was launched to save the stranded trekkers. Of the 13 rescued, eight were airlifted to Dehradun on Wednesday.A senior SDRF official, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, Nine people have been killed, while 13 have been successfully rescued. We have brought down five bodies the remaining four will be retrieved tomorrow as we had to suspend the rescue operation due to bad weather today.The Trek and Its ChallengesThe 22-member team, organised by the Himalayan View Trekking Agency in Maneri, comprised 18 trekkers from Karnataka, one from Maharashtra, and three local guides. They embarked on the 35-kilometre trek to Silla-Kushkalyan-Sahastra Tal, a high-altitude lake situated at around 4,600 metres, on May 29. They were scheduled to return by June 7 but encountered severe weather conditions that caused them to lose their way while descending from Sahastra Tal towards the base camp.Uttarkashi District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) Devendra Patwal reported that upon receiving the distress information, the District Magistrate instructed the SDRF to dispatch rescue teams immediately. Local rescue teams were also mobilised, and the IAF was requested to conduct helicopter rescue operations.Government ResponseChief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhamis office shared on social media that he is in regular contact with senior officials overseeing the rescue operation.नैनीताल जनपद के खनस्यू झड़गाँव के निकट टैक्सी वाहन के दुर्घटनाग्रस्त हो जाने से 6 लोगों के निधन का दु:खद समाचार प्राप्त हुआ।दुर्घटना स्थल पर स्थानीय प्रशासन, बचाव दल और चिकित्सकों की टीमें राहत कार्यों में जुटी है। घायलों को उपचार हेतु नज़दीकी स्वास्थ्य केंद्र भेज दिया गया है।…— Pushkar Singh Dhami (Modi Ka Parivar) (@pushkardhami) June 5, 2024Rescue Operations in DetailOn Wednesday, two IAF Chetak helicopters and a private helicopter were deployed to rescue the stranded trekkers. The SDRF dispatched two teams from Dehradun and Uttarkashi.SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra explained, The 22-member trekking group, including three guides, left for Sahastra Tal on May 29. Two members stayed back at the base camp due to health issues. The remaining 20 reached the summit. On their descent, the group encountered severe weather and lost their way.While 13 members, including the two who stayed at the base camp, were rescued, five others were found dead. The official added, We, along with other rescue teams, rescued 11 trekkers using helicopters. Of these, eight were sent to Dehradun by helicopter, and three were brought to Bhatwari. Two more are on their way back to Silla village guided by local experts.Identifying the VictimsThe deceased trekkers have been identified as Sindhu Vakekalam (45), Asha Sudhakar (71), Sujata Mungurwadi (51), Vinayak Mungurwadi (54), Chitra Praneeth (48), Padmanabha Kundapur Krishnamurthy (50), Venkatesha Prasad KN (53), Anita Rangappa (60), and Padmini Hegde (34), all from Bengaluru, Karnataka.This tragic incident highlights the unpredictable and hazardous nature of high-altitude trekking in the Himalayas, and the valiant efforts of rescue teams to save lives under challenging conditions.
