9 trekkers from K'taka die in Uttarakhand due to extreme weather

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: In a tragic incident, nine trekkers from the state died while 11 others were rescued after a 22-member group lost its way in the mountains due to extreme weather conditions during an expedition to Sehastrataal trek in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district.

Sources from Uttarkashi said that a search is on for others who are still missing. Later in the day, the Uttarakhand government shared information about two more trekkers who were found to be safe in a nearby base camp and are heading towards Silla village.

The 22-member trekking team was sent by Himalayan View Trekking Agency, Maneri, on May 29 on a 35-km long trek from Uttarkashi.

The team comprisedy 18 trekkers from Karnataka and one from Maharashtra, besides three local guides, Uttarkashi District Magistrate Meharban Singh Bisht said.

Four trekkers died while the rescue operations were on to save others trapped at Sahasratal in Uttarakhand, the principal secretary in the revenue department, Rashmi Mahesh, said.

According to her, the district magistrate of Garhwal is monitoring the rescue operation and a helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has also been pressed into service.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda left for Dehradun to monitor and coordinate the rescue operation. In a statement released by his office, the minister said that the team of trekkers started their trek on Tuesday morning in the high altitude area of Shastratal Mayali in Uttarakhand.

After reaching the destination, the team tried to return to the camp again. However, on the way back, the weather turned extremely bad at 2 pm due to a blizzard and they were stranded.

"Last night, we came to know that Karnataka trekkers are in danger. As soon as we came to know about the matter, the Uttarakhand government, Mountaineering Federation of India and the home department of the Central government were contacted through the district administration. With their help, the rescue operation of Karnataka trekkers is being carried out," he said.