States » NorthPosted at: Nov 1 2026 12:49AM


A day after six deaths in heli crash, 13 trekkers stranded in Kedartal amid snowfall and avalanche

Prithviraj Singh
Dehradun, Oct 31(UNI) A day after six persons were killed in a helicopter crash in Joshimath hills of Uttarakhand, 13 persons including seven trekkers and six supporting staff were reportedly stranded on the Kedartal trekking route of Gangotri National Park(GNP). Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were trying to rescue them as snowfall and avalanche hindered the operation.
According to information shared by the Uttarkashi Disaster Management department officials in Dehradun, the trekkers and supporting staff were stranded at Kedartal, at more 10,000 feet in the Gangotri glacier region, as their route was blocked by snowfall and a reported avalanche in the area owing to inclement weather condition for the past two days.
Officials informed that the stranded trekkers were supposed to come back at their base camp on October 29 but they were trapped in the snowfall.
The trekking agency that monitored the trip was able to locate five stranded persons, while efforts were being made by the district administration and rescue parties to establish contact with other eight persons.
Following information shared by the trekking agency that 13 trekkers and supporting staff were stranded on the Kedartal trek, a rescue operation was started on the directions of Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya on Saturday.
According to the district administration officials, the latest information received from GNP Range Officer said that four people including three porters and one cook were stranded but safe near Kacchi Dhang area of Kedartal trek. The remaining nine persons were trapped beyond Bhojkharak area due to an avalanche and road blockade caused by snowfall.
Officials said the agency staff was able to establish contact with them on October 30 over phone. They informed the administration that trekkers reported themselves safe near Kacchi Dhang and requested for help.
Following reestablishment of contact with the stranded persons, the trekking agency sent a team of porters and guides on October 30 who tried to clear around six kilometers of the snow-clad path but they could not reach the stranded persons.
On October 31, a 10-member NDRF rescue team left from Uttarkashi for Gangotri early in the morning.
Apart from this, another team consisting of two forest department members, seven trekking agency members and six SDRF personnel was also sent to Kedartal for safe rescue of the stranded persons.
Rescue teams were continuously trying to reach them but they were unable to reach the stranded persons till the time of filing.
The rescue operation was taking time due to a reported avalanche blocking the path.
An official in the Uttarkashi district administration said that they are making preparations to provide medical help to the injured persons and evaucate them safely and efforts were being made by the state disaster management department to arrange for a helicopter to support the rescue operation.
On Friday, six persons including five devotees and one pilot died in a helicopter crash on Hathi Parvat area in Chamoli due to bad weather. The bodies of the deceased persons could not be taken out from tragedy site till Saturday afternoon despite all efforts by the multiple rescue teams working on the ground.
Inclement weather condition hindered the rescue operation of the Indian Army, SDRF, Disaster Management Department and local police.
UNI PS RN
Tags: #A day after six deaths in heli crash# 13 trekkers stranded in Kedartal amid snowfall and avalanche
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