Uttarakhand Trekking Rescue Operation Escalates as 8 Remain Missing
· India · Indian Express, The Hindu
Eight trekkers are still missing after their October 2026 Kedartal trek was hit by heavy rain and avalanches, despite the rescue of four group members on October 31. The missing include five men from West Bengal — Tapas Bauri, Ratan Ghosh, Manoj Khovas, Ritu Mandal, Uday Ghosh — and two women from Uttar Pradesh, Vartika Verma and Deepika Verma, plus guide Siddharth Rana from Uttarkashi. A five‑member SDRF team searched up to Bhoj Kharak on October 31 but found no trace, and no distress call or remains have been discovered. Arpan Yaduvanshi, commandant of the Uttarakhand SDRF, said the force will attempt another helicopter access on Monday, November 2, after earlier aerial reconnaissance failed due to avalanche risks. The group of 12 had entered the park on October 27 after receiving permission for a three‑day trek on October 26, but the scheduled return was thwarted when a weather alert for October 29 was issued on October 27, preventing authorities from contacting them.
Why it matters
The ongoing rescue puts the lives of seven civilians and one guide at risk, with rescue teams facing logistical hurdles that could delay any further evacuation. The tragedy also highlights the need for better communication and early warning systems in high‑altitude trekking zones, as the group was unable to receive timely alerts about the impending weather. Families of the missing trekkers, especially those from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, are left in anguish, awaiting definitive news of thei
Read the original report — Indian Express
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