A high-altitude mountain expedition in the Himalayas took a perilous turn when sudden severe snowfall and an avalanche trapped members of a trekking group along the Kedartal trail. Eight individuals from the team remain untraced in the freezing wilderness. The missing group comprises five mountaineers from Bankura district in West Bengal, two individuals from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, and one local resident from Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand. Rescue teams are struggling against extreme weather across an elevation of approximately 4,000 metres.
Identity of the Missing Mountaineers
The five climbers from Bankura have been identified as Tapas Bauri, Ratan Ghosh, Rintu Mandal, Uday Ghosh, and Manoj Khawas. While Manoj is a resident of Keshra village, the other four hail from Salbani village in the same district. The group departed from their home state on October 24, expecting to conclude their trek and return home by the beginning of November. Relatives stated that the trekkers stayed in constant touch over the phone after arriving in the mountains, but all communications went completely silent over the past two to three days, with their mobile devices switched off.
How the Expedition Encountered the Avalanche
The entire expedition initially consisted of 12 people, an entourage that included four Sherpas and an assistant helper. Starting from Gangotri, the team moved toward their base camp and began ascending toward the Kedartal lake as per their itinerary. As the team crossed the challenging threshold of roughly 4,000 metres above sea level, abrupt weather degradation and heavy snow caught most members completely off guard. While the majority were separated in the whiteout, four members, including a Sherpa and the helper, managed to endure the elements and reached their destination on October 30. They promptly reported that the remaining eight members were missing.
Aviation Support and Search Operations
Upon receiving the distress notification, the Uttarakhand government initiated a search and rescue mission in the rugged terrain. A specialised team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was deployed, supported by a helicopter provided by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority. Despite two days of continuous aerial and ground surveys over the treacherous slopes, rescuers have not yet achieved a breakthrough. Severe adverse weather conditions and harsh winds at high altitude continue to hamper the ongoing rescue mission.
Interstate Coordination and Family Support
Reacting to the crisis, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari shared his grave concern on Facebook regarding the young men stranded in Uttarakhand. He noted that the state is maintaining close round-the-clock coordination with disaster management channels and the resident commissioner in New Delhi. Suvendu Adhikari said, “We stand firmly with the families and no stone is being left unturned to ensure the safe and early return of our youth.”
To maintain seamless communication, Bankura district officials, including the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) and the Superintendent of Police, were instructed to liaise with Uttarakhand SDRF and on-ground administrative teams. Bankura District Magistrate Anish Dasgupta announced on November 3 that administrative authorities had visited the affected families to offer all possible logistics and emotional assistance. Authorities continue to monitor the status of the two Lucknow trekkers and the Uttarkashi local as well.
