New Delhi: Nine members of a trekking team have died while six have survived after being trapped due to severe weather conditions on their way to Sahastra Tal in Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, according to the IAF which carried out a rescue operation on Wednesday.
The Indian Air Force evacuated three survivors and the bodies of five trekkers, while three Sherpas and the mortal remains of four trekkers will be brought back on Thursday, it said.
The 22-member trekking team was sent by Himalayan View Trekking Agency, Maneri, on May 29 on a 35-km long trek from Uttarkashi, according to officials
The IAF shared some details regarding the rescue operation and also visuals of a helicopter that was deployed for it in a post on X.
“Racing against time, #IAF helicopters have successfully evacuated three survivors and the mortal remains of five trekkers, out of the 15 trekkers who were trapped in severe weather while trekking to Sahastra Tal, Uttarkashi.
“Due to the high altitude and undulating terrain, the rescue was conducted by two light-weight Cheetah helicopters from the higher ground to the base camp and further to the nearest medical centre with medium lift Mi17 V5 helicopters.
“Three Sherpas and the mortal remains of four trekkers will be evacuated tomorrow,” the IAF posted.
Earlier in the day, an official in Uttarakhand said four members of the trekking team have died and 18 others were stranded on a trek to Sahastratal alpine lake, situated at an altitude of 4,100-4,400 metres in the upper Himalayan region.
The trekking team comprised 18 trekkers from Karnataka and one from Maharashtra, besides three local guides, Uttarkashi District Magistrate Meharban Singh Bisht said.
The team was to return by June 7, but lost its way due to bad weather as it approached Sahastratal from the last base camp, Bisht said.
The trekking agency later found that four members of the team had died and others were stranded, the DM said.
Land and aerial rescue operations were launched in search of the trekkers, he said.
The IAF has been requested to rescue the stranded trekkers and find the bodies of those who died during the Malla-Silla-Kushkalyan-Sahastratal trek, he earlier said.
Arrangements have been made for rescue operations from Matli, Harsil, and other helipads, he said.
A 10-member recce and rescue team from the forest department has crossed Silla village, while an SDRF team left Uttarkashi early on Wednesday for Budha Kedar in Tehri district, the DM said.
The trek is located on the border of the Tehri district.
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