Two More Bodies Found on Avalanche-Hit Uttarkashi Trekking Route as Death Toll Reaches Six

Search Operations

The death toll in the Uttarkashi avalanche disaster has risen to six after rescue teams recovered two more bodies on Thursday from the Kedartal trekking route. Joint teams from the State Disaster Response Force and the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering carried out the search in the Kedarkhadak area amidst difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions. Operations ran from 9 am to 3.30 pm, with plans for a fresh sweep on Friday to find the remaining two missing persons.

The Expedition Group

The tragedy struck a 12-member or 13-member expedition that originally set out from Gangotri on October 27 for a scheduled three-day trek. The group included seven trekkers, a local guide named Siddharth Rana, a cook, and three porters. The Forest Department had issued a weather alert warning of adverse conditions on October 29, but officials could not reach the team in time because communication lines failed after they departed. Heavy snowfall subsequently triggered avalanches across roughly 10 to 12 locations along the route.

Rescues and Identification

Four support staff members were safely rescued on October 31 near Kachchi Dhang after personnel cleared accumulated snow to create a passage. Among those found deceased are Rintu Mandal, aged 40, and Uday Ghosh, aged 30, both hailing from Salbani in West Bengal's Bankura district. Families of the missing trekkers, including Vishwajeet whose uncle Tapas Bauri remains missing, have expressed dwindling hope as rescue teams manually dig through snow and recover personal belongings.

Context

Mountain expeditions in high-altitude Himalayan regions often face sudden weather shifts that can trigger rapid avalanches and block escape routes. Local disaster response units regularly deploy specialized joint teams to handle remote rescue operations when communication fails in adverse terrain.