Body of missing Panchkula youth found at Churdhar peak

In a tragic discovery, a severely mutilated body was found at Churdhar, the highest peak of the outer Himalayas in Sirmaur district, at an altitude of 11,965 feet. The body, trapped between large rocks and snow behind the revered Shivling, was discovered by three local youths searching for a missing man from Panchkula, Haryana. While official identification is pending, it is suspected to be Akshay, who went missing on February 26, during Shivratri.

On Monday morning, Hansraj, Harish and Tapendra from Nohradhar launched a self-initiated search, moved by the grief of Akshay’s family. Braving the treacherous terrain, they discovered a decomposed body buried in ice behind the Lord Shiva statue at Churdhar peak. They immediately informed the locals and authorities. Efforts are now underway to transport the body to Nohradhar for further investigation.

Akshay’s disappearance had triggered a massive rescue operation involving the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, forest and revenue departments. However, extreme cold and heavy snowfall hampered their search. On March 6, a three-member team from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering, Manali, took over but had to call off the mission due to harsh weather. Even renowned mountaineer Baljeet Kaur and her team attempted a search on March 10 but were unsuccessful.

Despite expert teams failing to locate Akshay, the determination of three local youths led to the discovery, showcasing the resilience and resourcefulness of the community.

Confirming the incident, Sangrah SDM Sunil Kumar Kaith, said: “We have received information about a mutilated body found in Churdhar. The identity will be confirmed after a thorough investigation. Due to heavy snow, retrieval was not possible yesterday, but today, a combined police and local team is working to transport it to Nohradhar.”

This discovery brings a heartbreaking end to Akshay’s disappearance while raising concerns over the risks faced by pilgrims and trekkers in the unforgiving terrain of Churdhar.