8 Trekkers Missing In N. India Amid Rough Weather

NEW DELHI, Nov 3 (Bernama-Xinhua) — At least eight people, including seven trekkers and one trekking guide, have been missing for the past six days amid rough weather in India’s northern hilly state of Uttarakhand, confirmed a local official on Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

The trekkers set off on a three-day trek in the state’s Kedartal area on Oct 27, and an avalanche struck the area on Oct 29 amid heavy snowfall, according to media reports.

The trekkers had been missing since Oct 29, when they last established contact with their trekking agency asking for help, the local official said, and added that three porters and one cook were rescued three days ago.

A 10-member Mountain Rescue Team comprising six personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and four from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, was airlifted to the Kedartal valley in Uttarakhand on Monday to search for the group. However, the search and rescue work was called off amid rough weather by Monday evening.

Search and rescue operation was expected to resume on Tuesday.  

— BERNAMA-XINHUA