Following relentless snowfall across the high-altitude Himalayan terrain of Uttarkashi, the local administration has stepped into a state of high alert to safeguard the lives of stranded trekkers and porters. A total of 136 mountaineers, trekkers, and support personnel are currently located across various remote trekking routes, including Gangotri, Tapovan, Kalindi Pass, and Auden's Col base camp. District Magistrate Prashant Arya convened a detailed review meeting with key officials, issuing strict directives to bring all stranded teams down to safety. Depending on weather conditions, an aerial reconnaissance will be conducted, and air rescue operations will be deployed immediately if required.
Comprehensive Arrangements for Food and Medical Aid
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force, local police, Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, and the forest department have been placed on standby. Adequate provisions of rations, packaged meals, drinking water, and essential medicines have been arranged for the trekkers. Medical squads along with ambulances are kept ready for any emergencies. Meanwhile, the district disaster control room is maintaining constant communication with expedition guides via satellite telephony to monitor the well-being of those trapped at high altitudes. Additional District Magistrate Mukta Mishra has been deputed to Harshil to oversee ground operations and ensure that evacuation efforts run smoothly.
Current Status of Stranded Teams Across Camps
According to administrative updates, the majority of tourists trapped near Bhojwasa and Chirbasa have already been evacuated safely, aided significantly by personnel from the Gangotri National Park. At present, 136 mountaineers, trekkers, and support staff remain stationed in the high-reaching terrain of the district. Among them, 89 individuals are engaged in high-altitude expeditions, while 18 people are positioned at the Kalindi Pass base camp and 29 are at the Auden's Col Pass base camp. The primary objective of the administration is to bring every trekker and porter down unharmed, with rescue squads working tirelessly toward this goal.
Evacuation of Pilgrims Along the Kedarnath Route
In a separate incident along the Kedarnath walking route near the Chirbasa sector, debris and boulders came crashing down late Sunday night, blocking the pathway entirely. Promptly responding to the hazard, rescue teams deployed at the site initiated evacuation protocols to move pilgrims out of harm's way. District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar stated that rescue personnel have successfully evacuated around 1,100 pilgrims so far. Prioritizing traveler safety above all, the rescue operations are being executed with utmost vigilance and inter-agency coordination. Monitoring of the affected sector remains ongoing, and efforts to guide the remaining travelers to secure locations are continuing at full pace. The administration has appealed to all travelers to maintain patience and cooperate fully with safety protocols.
