Una youth missing for 8 days on Kangra trekking route

A 27-year-old youth, Nitin Sharma, a resident of Lohara village in Amb tehsil of Una district, has been missing for the past eight days after embarking on a solo trek to the Adi Himani Chamunda Devi temple in Kangra district.

According to police sources, Nitin had set out on the 14-km-long high-altitude trek but lost contact with his family soon after. His sister, Srishti Sharma, lodged a missing persons report on June 15, prompting a coordinated search operation by the local police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). She told the police that her brother had gone to Adi Himani Chamunda trekking route on June 13 and has lost contact with the family.

The search teams have been facing significant challenges due to inclement weather, which has hampered the search operation.

Over the past 48 hours, the rescue teams have extended their search up to the Triund area, which connects to Himani Chamunda through a rugged and remote mountain trail. The team is currently stationed at the Himani Chamunda temple complex and is continuing its efforts.

Local officials said that Nitin had taken the route to Himani Chamunda via Jiya village. Additionally, the search has been expanded to the Khargosani Mata temple area, located on the next hill beyond the Himani Chamunda site.

District Magistrate of Kangra Hemraj Bairwa has told a section of the media that he has sounded an alert to the local administration in the adjoining Chamba district and all possible help was being sought from them.

The SDRF teams were also using drones to locate the missing youth. If needed, the administration may summon the services of a helicopter to search for the youth.