7 people who went missing after an avalanche on the Kedartal track in Uttarkashi have been found dead, while one trekker remains missing. The administration has now stopped the rescue operation after a search lasting about 7 days.

3 bodies recovered earlier were brought to the district headquarters on Friday when weather conditions improved. The bodies had been found on the previous Thursday, but poor weather prevented officials from transporting them at the time.

The bodies were flown from Matli helipad to a temporary helipad created by the rescue team on the Kedartal track. They were then taken to the district hospital for identification.

3 latest victims identified

The 3 people brought to the hospital were identified as local guide Siddharth Rana and trekkers Tapas Bauri and Manoj Khas, who were from West Bengal.

4 other bodies recovered during the operation had already been identified as trekkers Deepika Verma, Vartika Verma, Rintu Mandal and Uday Ghosh, reported as residents of Uttar Pradesh.

Ratan Ghosh remains missing. The available information does not indicate that his body has been recovered.

Search ends amid deep snow

The incident occurred on 29 October, when an 8-member group consisting of one guide and 7 trekkers was caught in an avalanche near Kachchi Dhang while returning from Kedartal.

After the group went missing, authorities conducted helicopter reconnaissance and deployed a 10-member team from the SDRF and NIM. The teams searched the area for about 7 days and recovered 7 bodies.

District Disaster Management Officer Shardul Gusain said the rescue team had been unable to locate the remaining trekker. More than 10 feet of snow has accumulated in the area, and snowfall is continuing there.

Because of the heavy snow and worsening conditions, the administration decided to close the rescue operation. The NIM and SDRF teams have reached Harsil by helicopter after completing the search activity at the track.

The recovery of the 7 bodies brings the confirmed death toll from the incident to 7. The status of the eighth member remains unresolved because the search teams have not found the person or the body.

Conclusion

7 members of the Kedartal trekking group have been recovered dead and identified, while Ratan Ghosh remains missing. The administration has closed the search because of more than 10 feet of snow and continuing snowfall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many people died in the Kedartal avalanche?

7 people from the 8-member group have been found dead.

Q. How many people are still missing?

one trekker, identified as Ratan Ghosh, remains missing.

Q. When did the avalanche occur?

The group was caught in the avalanche on 29 October while returning from Kedartal.

Q. Where did the avalanche take place?

The group was caught near Kachchi Dhang on the Kedartal track.

Q. Who were the 3 people whose bodies were brought to the hospital on Friday?

They were local guide Siddharth Rana and West Bengal trekkers Tapas Bauri and Manoj Khas.

Q. How many bodies had been recovered before the latest 3?

4 bodies had been recovered earlier and identified as Deepika Verma, Vartika Verma, Rintu Mandal and Uday Ghosh.

Q. Why was the rescue operation stopped?

The area has more than 10 feet of snow and is receiving continuing snowfall, making further searching difficult.

Q. Which teams conducted the search?

Helicopter reconnaissance was carried out, while a 10-member team from the SDRF and NIM searched the area for about 7 days.