Massive avalanche in Uttarakhand, 8 missing

A sudden snowstorm and avalanche in Uttarakhand caught an eight-member trekking team off guard. Authorities report that all eight members are currently missing in the high-altitude terrain.

Five of the missing trekkers belong to West Bengal’s Bankura district. Two individuals hail from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, while one local trekker belongs to Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand.

The group departed for their Uttarakhand expedition on October 24. They originally planned their return journey to West Bengal for early November before bad weather hit the mountains.

Officials identified the Bankura trekkers as Tapas Bauri, Ratan Ghosh, Rintu Mandal, Uday Ghosh, and Manoj Khawas. Four residents belong to Salbani village, while Manoj resides in Keshra.

The expedition team originally comprised twelve members, including four Sherpas and a mountain assistant. They began their challenging trek toward Kedartal after departing from the Gangotri base camp.

Disaster struck at an altitude of approximately 4,000 metres. A severe snowstorm swept across the steep slopes and separated most of the expedition members from one another.

They reached safety on October 30 and immediately alerted local authorities about the missing group.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed deep concern over the incident. He confirmed that state officials are actively coordinating rescue operations with the Uttarakhand government.

The West Bengal Resident Commissioner’s Office in New Delhi maintains direct contact with response teams. Meanwhile, emergency channels continuously track updates from the State Disaster Response Force.

Senior police officials, including Bankura’s District Magistrate Anish Dasgupta, maintain round-the-clock communication. Administrative teams actively support the distressed families in Bankura with logistical assistance.

Distraught family members reported losing phone contact with the trekkers three days ago. Turned-off mobile phones have heightened anxiety across both Salbani and Keshra villages.

The Uttarakhand SDRF immediately launched an extensive search operation across the region. Search teams utilize a Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority helicopter to scan rugged slopes.

Rescuers have searched the vast mountainous terrain over the past two days. However, ground teams have reported no major breakthrough in locating the missing trekkers yet.

Adverse high-altitude weather and freezing temperatures frequently halt aerial search flights. Despite persistent climate challenges, rescue teams continue their intensive operations across the storm-affected zones.