Four mountaineers missing in Kullu traced

Abhinav Vashisht

KULLU, SEPTEMBER 11

Rescue teams today traced four mountaineers of West Bengal who went missing on Wednesday while scaling Mt Ali Ratni Tibba (5,458m) near Malana village of this district.

The rescue teams started search operation on Friday and reached the base camp at Wachem yesterday. Two Air Force helicopters were pressed in the search and rescue operation today. A team of the NDRF was also dispatched yesterday to assist in the rescue operations.

Kullu SDM Vikas Shukla said the trekkers were safe and they would reach the base camp today along with the rescue teams. They would reach the roadhead at Malana tomorrow.

The missing persons were professional mountaineers and had not taken any permission from the administration or the police before undertaking the expedition. Kullu Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Angel Chauhan said permission from the Forest Department was necessary to use the forest area and pitch tents there. The copies of approved permissions are sent to the SDM, DSP and other officials concerned for information, he said.

Since there are no specific guidelines for various activities under Miscellaneous Adventure Activities Rules 2017, adventure activities related to trekking, rock climbing, zorbing balls, rolling balls, bungee jumping, ATVs, mountain biking and skiing are allowed during the rainy season as well, while most of the adventure activities related to river and sky adventure sports are banned from July 15 to September 15 every year.

Despite the district administration frequently advising caution regarding trekking during inclement weather, trekkers continue to embark on such expeditions. Often, the local administration is not informed. Many professional mountaineers, too, are not bothered about making SOS arrangements.

The forest and tourism departments had set up the first check-post of the district to register trekkers going to Hamta Pass at Jobdi Nala in Manali subdivision of this district on July 18. The officials of the Tourism Department had stated there are a large number of trekking routes in the district. In order to ensure the safety of the trekkers, similar barriers would be installed on all major trekking routes of the district.

No permission taken

The missing persons were professional mountaineers and had not taken any permission from the administration or the police before undertaking the expedition. Kullu Divisional Forest Officer said permission from the Forest Department was necessary to use the forest area and pitch tents. The copies of approved permissions are sent to the SDM, DSP and other officials concerned for information.