Uttarakhand: 10 mountaineers killed in avalanche; 8 rescued, many missing
In an unfortunate incident, 28 mountaineers were trapped under an avalanche at the Draupadi Ka Danda-2 mountain peak in Uttarakhand on Tuesday, officials said. While eight have been rescued, 10 lost their lives in the deadly avalanche; the others are missing. The avalanche reportedly occurred at 9:00 am at an altitude of 16,000 feet. Those trapped are trainees of a Uttarkashi mountaineering institute.
Rescue operations underway
All the trapped mountaineers belonged to the Nehru Mountaineering Institute (NIM) in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, NDTV reported. Efforts are underway to bring the others to safety. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army, and the Indo-Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) are engaged in rescue operations. Indian Air Force (IAF) also deployed two Cheetah helicopters for rescue-relief operations.
10 trainees dead, confirms mountaineering institute
Where did the avalanche occur?
Per reports, the mountaineering trainees were hit by the avalanche at 9:00 am on Tuesday. ITBP PRO Vivek Pandey said the trainees hoped to reach Draupadi Ka Danda-2 mountain peak, located at 18,000 feet. The rescued trainees are reportedly being flown to a helipad nearby and will be taken to Dehradun. NIM's Principal Amit Bisht confirmed to PTI that 10 trainees lost their lives.
SDRF teams leave for rescue operations
'Rapid rescue operations underway'
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "Rapid relief and rescue operations are being carried out... After speaking with Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, we have requested to take Army's help to speed up the rescue operations... The central government will grant all possible help."
