Bengaluru news: 4 trekkers feared dead, 19 still stranded in Uttarakhand mountains

Bengaluru: Around 19 trekkers from Bengaluru who had gone for trekking to Sahastra Tal-Mayali section in the Garhwal mountain range of Himalayas are stranded in Uttarakhand due to bad weather. According to initial information received from the Revenue Department, at least four trekkers have lost their lives due to bad weather in the area. Rescue operations have begun with the help of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and six trekkers have already been rescued. An Air Force helicopter has been requisitioned and forest officials along with local villagers are assisting in the rescue operation. As of 12 noon, around four helicopters from various agencies were being used for the rescue operation and the rescued trekkers are being taken to Dehradun to provide immediate medical care. “The weather conditions there are very bad. The visibility is low due to heavy snowfall and rain and hence the rescue helicopter is not able to fly. However, two rescue teams are walking on foot to reach the stranded trekkers. This morning, when the weather conditions were relatively favourable, the rescue helicopter picked up two of the stranded trekkers whose health condition was deteriorating,” Revenue Department Principal Secretary V Rashmi Mahesh told DH.
The state government is closely monitoring the ongoing rescue operations and the Karnataka government may send an officer to Uttarakhand to coordinate the rescue operations. “We are yet to ascertain the actual condition of the trekkers. We will speak to the rescued people to get better information. The Uttarakhand government has been very responsive and we will also depute an officer to reach Uttarakhand soon to coordinate the rescue efforts. As soon as the weather clears a bit, we will send helicopters to rescue the rest of the trekkers. Meanwhile, foot teams will also try to reach them,” Rashmi said. Officials on the ground are confident of completing the rescue operation by Wednesday evening, sources said. The trekkers are now reported to be at a camping site and the trek was booked through a private mountaineering agency, sources said.