3 trekkers rescued from Hamta area

KULLU, JANUARY 27

Three tourists, who had gone for trekking in Hamta area near Manali, were rescued by the police in the wee hours today.

Shahid (32) and Imran Khan (22) from New Delhi and Rehan (12) of Rajasthan set out on a trek without a local guide and wandered into the jungles yesterday. They lost their way in the snow-covered forest and were left stranded.

Kullu SP Gaurav Singh said the control room at Manali Police Station received information at night that some tourists are stranded in the forest near Hamta. He said that a team led by head constable Rajesh left for Hamta area and conducted search operations with the help of local people throughout the night in Saithan, Pandu Ropa, Dam site, etc.

The team was able to spot the stranded tourists in a forest, about 2 km below Saithan, in the wee hours today. They were brought them back safely to Manali.

The SP urged the tourists to visit the high mountainous areas only when weather conditions were favourable and that too with the help of trained local guides. — OC