A 63-year-old traveller from Maharashtra went missing on the Gangotri-Gaumukh trail after slipping near Kachchidang, around 2 km beyond Chirbasa. He fell into a gorge and was carried away by the river’s strong current, officials said.

The Forest Department and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) began searching the area on Saturday morning. Teams checked the gorge and sections along the river, but worsening weather prevented them from continuing.

The search operation was suspended after rain and snowfall affected conditions in the area. The teams later returned to Gangotri, while officials said another attempt would be made on Sunday.

How the incident unfolded

According to Gangotri National Park Range Officer Pradeep Bisht, Ramkumar Hanuman Gupta of Maharashtra had set out for the Gaumukh trek on Friday with his son Vishal Ram Kumar and other companions.

The group had covered about 12 km when Gupta reportedly lost his footing near Kachchidang during the afternoon. He fell into the gorge before entering the river. His son and the other members returned later in the evening and reported the incident at the Kankhu barrier.

The information was then passed to the Forest Department team and the police administration. A search party left for the location on Saturday morning after receiving the report.

Weather disrupts search

The rescue teams faced difficult conditions during the operation. Continuous rain and snowfall reduced the possibility of safely searching the riverbank and surrounding terrain.

After examining the area around the river, officials called off the effort for the day. The missing traveller had not been located by the time the operation was suspended.

The group accompanying Gupta included his son, Vishal Ram Kumar, along with Deepak Chhotelal, Shivsevak Motilal and Nikhil Suresh, according to the information provided by the Forest Department.

The incident occurred on a remote trekking section where access was further affected by snowfall. Officials will reassess the conditions before restarting the search on Sunday.

What happens next

Forest Department and SDRF personnel are expected to resume the search on Sunday. The operation will focus on the river area and the gorge near Kachchidang, subject to weather and safety conditions.

No information confirming that Gupta has been found was available when the Saturday operation ended. The search remains an ongoing effort, and the authorities have not reported a confirmed recovery.

Conclusion

A Maharashtra traveller remains unaccounted for after falling into the river near Kachchidang on the Gaumukh trail. Rain and snowfall halted Saturday’s search, with officials planning to resume the operation on Sunday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where did the incident take place?

The incident occurred near Kachchidang, around 2 km beyond Chirbasa on the Gangotri-Gaumukh trek.

Q. Who is missing?

Ramkumar Hanuman Gupta, a 63-year-old traveller from Maharashtra, is missing after falling into the river.

Q. When did the accident happen?

The incident took place on Friday afternoon after the group had covered about 12 km of the trail.

Q. Which teams carried out the search?

The Forest Department and the State Disaster Response Force conducted the search on Saturday.

Q. Why was the search suspended?

Rain and snowfall created difficult conditions and forced the teams to stop the operation.

Q. When will the search resume?

Officials said the search would be conducted again on Sunday.

Q. Who informed the authorities?

Gupta’s son and the other companions reported the incident at the Kankhu barrier after returning in the evening.