BENGALURU, 6 JUNE

Thirteen survivors from a group of 22 trekkers from Bengaluru who were stranded in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand due to extreme weather have returned home on Thursday evening. The mortal remains of nine trekkers, who died during a 35-km trek from Uttarkashi, are expected to arrive in Bengaluru early on Friday morning from Delhi via flight.

Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said on X, “We have shifted all 9 bodies from the airport to the hospital for embalming. After embalming, the bodies will be transported in ambulances to Delhi airport. We are booking space for Friday morning Delhi-Bengaluru flights. As the flights are booked, we will intimate arrival details for the deceased persons.”

Rescue operations were initially halted on Wednesday night due to adverse weather, resulting in five confirmed deaths and 13 rescues, with four trekkers still unaccounted for. Operations resumed early on Thursday, recovering four additional mortal remains of trekkers, which were sent to Dehradun. Vijayendra J, Master Trainer at Uttarakhand NDRF, told Salar News, "We have sent the mortal remains of nine people to Uttarkashi. Thirteen have been rescued by helicopter and sent to Dehradun for medical treatment and are reported to be safe."

The 22-member trekking team, organised by Himalayan View Trekking Agency, Maneri, began their journey on 29 May for the trek from Uttarkashi. The team, consisting of 18 trekkers from Karnataka, one from Maharashtra, and three local guides, was expected to return by 7 June but lost their way due to a blizzard as they approached Sahastra Tal from the last base camp. They were trekking in the Sahastratal alpine lake area, situated at an altitude of 4,100-4,400 metres in the upper Himalayan region of Uttarakhand.

Four helicopters, including three from Air Force (two of which are Cheetah helicopters), were mobilised for the rescue operations. The rescue team departed from Silla Village, Budhakedar in Tehri district, ITBP Matli, and a backup team from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi. Separate teams conducted rescues both by helicopter and on foot from Pinswad of Ghansali to assist the trekkers.

The Indian Air Force reported, “The survivors of the mishap have been airlifted to the nearest medical centre for further care and recuperation. The rescue operation, which commenced yesterday (on Wednesday), has now culminated.”

Revenue Minister Gowda said: “As soon as we learned of the situation, the Uttarakhand government, Mountaineering Federation of India, and the Home Department of the Central Government were contacted through the district administration. With their help, the rescue operation was carried out," he said. —Salar News