Rescue team sets out to find missing trekkers in Uttarakhand

Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand), Sep. 27 (ANI): The administration in Uttarakhand has deployed a rescue team to find eight trekkers who have gone missing in the flood-ravaged and landslide-hit Uttarkashi town while on a trekking expedition.

The 13-member rescue team left the base camp early on Sunday to find the missing trekkers.

As the condition remained adverse to carry out the rescue operation, the District Administration also sought the help from the Indian Army in the mission.

"In one of our trekking trips, out of a group of 17 trekkers nine have come back and the rest eight, who had to leave for Joshimath haven't left for the destination yet and we have sent a rescue team of 13 people for them which includes police personnel and officials from NIM (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering)," said Hemlata Dhoundiyal, District Magistrate, Uttarkashi.

"They are trying to find the missing trekkers. We have also asked for a helicopter from the Army to help in the rescue mission," she added.

A group of 17 trekkers had set out for Badrinath from Gangotri.

The expedition halted midway when nine of them fell ill and returned back to the camp, however, the other eight continued their journey only to get stuck in the heavy snowfall.

The officials soon lost track of the stranded trekkers as the weather conditions continued to worsen.

The trekkers have been missing for over a week now with little food and no extra oxygen cylinders. By Ashish Goel (ANI)