Search Underway for Missing Trekkers in Uttarakhand Avalanche
Missing Trekkers from West Bengal
Representational Image
Kolkata, Nov 3: An expedition team of eight individuals, including five trekkers from Bankura district in West Bengal, has gone missing due to an avalanche and a sudden snowstorm while trekking in Uttarakhand, as reported by a government official on Tuesday.
The missing trekkers from Bankura are Tapas Bauri, Ratan Ghosh, Rintu Mandal, Uday Ghosh, and Manoj Khawas. The first four hail from Salbani village, while Manoj is from Keshra village, both located in the same district.
Among the other three missing members, two are from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, and one is from Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand.
The group from Bankura embarked on their journey to Uttarakhand on October 24 and was expected to return in early November.
In light of the situation, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed his concern for the missing trekkers and stated that the state government is collaborating with Uttarakhand authorities.
"I am deeply worried about the five young trekkers from Bankura: Rintu Mondal, Uday Ghosh, Ratan Ghosh, Tapas Bauri, and Manoj Khawas, who have gone missing during the Kedartal trek due to severe weather conditions and heavy snowfall," Adhikari shared in a post on X.
He mentioned that his administration is in constant communication with the Uttarakhand government and its State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to keep track of the situation.
"Through our Resident Commissioner’s Office in New Delhi and State Disaster Management channels, we are actively seeking regular updates on the extensive search and rescue operations currently underway to locate and rescue our boys," he added.
The Chief Minister has assigned the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) and the Superintendent of Police of Bankura district to ensure continuous coordination with the Uttarakhand SDRF, local district authorities, and administrative officials at the site.
He also noted that the state administration has reached out to the distressed families in Bankura, providing them with logistical and emotional support.
"We stand firmly with the families, and no effort is being spared to ensure the safe and swift return of our youths. We pray for their safety and well-being," Adhikari emphasized.
Reports indicate that a 12-member expedition team, which included four Sherpas and an assistant, had departed from Gangotri for Kedartal. They began their trek from the base camp as scheduled. However, while navigating the mountainous terrain at an altitude of approximately 4,000 meters, most members were caught in a sudden snowstorm and went missing.
Four members of the expedition, including a Sherpa and the assistant, managed to reach their destination on October 30 and subsequently informed authorities about the missing eight members.
In response, the Uttarakhand government initiated a search and rescue operation. A team from the Uttarakhand SDRF, supported by a helicopter from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, has been searching the mountainous area for the missing trekkers over the past two days, but no significant progress has been made.
The Uttarakhand government has reported that adverse weather conditions in the high-altitude region are intermittently hindering the rescue efforts. The local administration has also reached out to the families of the missing trekkers, assuring them of all possible assistance.
Bankura District Magistrate Anish Dasgupta stated on Tuesday that the district administration had contacted the families after learning about the incident and assured them of all possible help.
Family members reported that they had been in regular contact with the trekkers after their arrival in the mountains, but there has been no communication for the last two to three days. The mobile phones of the missing trekkers are also switched off, heightening the anxiety of their families.