Avalanche hits Uttarakhand peak: 10 mountaineers dead, several missing
Rescue operations underway in Uttarakhand. Photo: @ANI/Twitter
At least 10 trainee mountaineers were killed after an avalanche hit the Draupadi Ka Danda- 2 peak in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand on Tuesday. While 8 have been rescued, while several mountaineers were still trapped.
Nehru Institute of Mountaineering Principal Amit Bisht told PTI that 10 students have been killed in the incident.
They were all a part of a trekking group of 40 from Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, including 33 trainees and seven instructors, reported India Today.
What happened? The avalanche hit the team at 9 am at an altitude of 16,000 feet. The state disaster response force and national disaster response force were rushed to the spot to locate the group and rescue them, reported India Today.
Rescue operations: The National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and a team of mountaineers from the NIM have launched rescue operations, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a tweet.
The CM also spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the phone and sought the help of the army in expediting rescue operations. 2 Cheetah helicopters have been deployed by IAF and more choppers are on standby. SDRF teams have left from Dehradun to rescue the trainees.
Uttarakhand | SDRF teams leave from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun to rescue the trainees trapped in an avalanche in Draupadi's Danda-2 mountain peak pic.twitter.com/kYRRgLAwwh
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 4, 2022
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the government has spoken to the Defence Ministry to seek the Army's help for a speedy rescue.
मा. रक्षा मंत्री श्री @rajnathsingh जी से वार्ता कर रेस्क्यू अभियान में तेजी लाने के लिए सेना की मदद लेने हेतु अनुरोध किया है, जिसको लेकर उन्होंने हमें केंद्र सरकार की ओर से हर सम्भव सहायता देने के लिए आश्वस्त किया है। सभी को सुरक्षित निकालने हेतु रेस्क्यू अभियान चलाया जा रहा है।
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) October 4, 2022
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the tragic accident. Though there is no confirmation yet on any deaths.
Deeply anguished by the loss of precious lives due to landslide which has struck the mountaineering expedition carried out by the Nehru Mountaineering Institute in Uttarkashi. My condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. Okay 1/2
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 4, 2022
He also said that he spoke to Uttarakhand CM to take stock of the situation and assure all required help.
Spoke to CM Uttarakhand, Shri @PushkarDhami and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to help the mountaineers who are still trapped.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 4, 2022
I have instructed the IAF to mount the rescue and relief ops. Praying for everyone’s safety and well-being. 2/2