Nine stranded trekkers safe, await rescue

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 27

Nine members of a trekking team that had got stranded along Panpatiya trekking route falling between the shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath in Uttarakhand, though exhausted, are all safe. Rescue teams have zeored in on their locations.

The trekking team had lost way a few days ago while undertaking this most arduous trek in the snow-capped terrain at a height of over 4,000 m above sea level. The stranded trekkers, mostly officials of Indian Oil Corporation, are from West Bengal and are completely exhausted.

Uttarakhand Inspector General of Police Sanjay Gunjyal disclosed that they have zeored in on the possible location of nine stranded trekkers. Those stranded include five IOC officials and four porters.

He said the exact locations will be known shortly as rescue team members have already reached Budda Madmaheshwar and were further carrying out the rescue operations.

He apprised that the rescue teams that include police, administration officials and state disaster response force officials have left for the site and if needed a helicopter could also be pressed into service as part of the rescue.

Significantly, some of the other porters that were part of the trekking team reached Madhmashwar yesterday and informed the authorities about the concerned trekking team getting stranded.