Uttarakhand: At least ten mountaineers were killed after an avalanche hit Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, Nehru Institute of Mountaineering Principal Amit Bisht confirmed. According to DGP Ashok Kumar two lady mountaineers have possibly not survived.
Total of 41 people including 34 trainees and 7 mountaineering instructors were hit by an avalanche, as per Nehru Institute of Mountaineering.
According to Uttarakhand SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra there is continuous heavy snowfall on Draupadi's Danda-2 mountain peak. Despite this, recce efforts are underway through IAF helicopters to rescue NIM mountaineering trainees.
"29 trainee mountaineers from mountaineering institute in Uttarakashi went for mountaineering.Incident occurred at height of 14,000 feet. 8 rescued while exact location of others yet to be ascertained. Two lady mountaineers have possibly not survived," DGP Ashok Kumar.
Draupadi Ka Danda is located at a height of 5,006 metres.
PM expresses grief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed grief at the loss of lives in the incident. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the State Disaster Management Authority office at the secretariat for an update. He has also cancelled all his programmes for Wednesday.
Uttarkashi Disaster Management Officer Devendra Patwal had said earlier in the day that eight of those trapped were rescued.
The prime minister said, "It is saddening that we have lost precious lives of those associated with a NIM Uttarkashi mountaineering expedition. Condolences to the bereaved families. Rescue operations are underway and the situation is being closely monitored by the authorities."
Shah, who is currently in Jammu and Kashmir, tweeted in Hindi, "The avalanche incident in Uttarkashi is very sad. I have spoken to officials in this regard. Local administration, SDRF, NDRF, ITBP and Army teams are promptly engaged in relief and rescue works."
Gandhi also offered his "heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones".
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, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a tweet. Dhami has also spoken to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and sought the help of the Army in expediting the 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, Dhami said in a tweet. Dhami has also spoken to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and sought the help of the Army in expediting the rescue operations.
(with agencies inputs)
