Uttarkashi Avalanche Death Toll Rises to Four as Rescue Teams Recover Two More Bodies

On Wednesday, the dead bodies of two more trekkers of the eight people who were missing after a huge avalanche on the Kedartal trek route in Uttarkashi district of Garhwal, Uttarakhand were recovered, officials said.

State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi said, “The search and rescue teams recovered two bodies on Tuesday and another two on Wednesday. The toll has risen to 4. The search for the remaining missing trekkers is underway.”

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The missing team was comprised of five male trekkers from West Bengal, two female trekkers from Uttar Pradesh and a local guide from Uttarkashi.

Two of the four dead have been identified as sisters from Lucknow Vartika (28) and Deepika Verma (29).

The identification of the two bodies was still underway, at the time filing the report.

“The bodies were brought to Matli helipad in Uttarkashi via helicopter at 11.52am. The bodies were shifted to the mortuary of the district hospital for identification and postmortem,” said Uttarkashi district magistrate Prashant Arya.

“Around 50kg of rations, essential butane gas, and other relief material were also delivered to the search and rescue teams involved in the operation,” he said.

“The search and rescue operation is underway on a war footing. Despite severe challenges posed by difficult terrain, glaciers, snowfall, and extreme weather, teams from SDRF, NDRF, NIM, forest, police, and revenue departments are continuously working on the ground. We are closely monitoring every activity from the Smart Control Room to ensure the effective deployment of all rescue resources,” Arya said.

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The team had recovered tents and bags near Kedar Kharak, the second big camp site on the trail, earlier, on Monday.

The avalanche occurred near Kedar Kharak on October 29 while they were coming back down from Kedartal glacial lake at a height of 15,485 ft (4,720 metres). It is fed by the melting snows of Mt Thalay Sagar, Mt Bhrigupanth and the Jogin peaks and it is a popular tourist spot for the experienced high altitude trekkers.

The seven-member expedition, which also included five support members, left Gangotri on October 27 and was set to wrap up the trek on October 29. Four support staff who somehow made it to Gangotri on October 30 notified police of the incident.

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