Dehradun: Uttarakhand government today
suspended adventure sports like mountaineering and trekking in
the wake of turbulent weather conditions in the hill state.
"Mountaineering and trekking activities have been stopped
till the situation improves," Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal
Nishank told reporters here.
However, the government will review the situation in the
next few days and take a decision accordingly, he said.
Nearly 500 tourists and trekkers are stranded while
several were caught in avalanches due to turbulent weather
following incessant rains in upper Himalayan reaches last
week, a senior official said.
The government has so far rescued over 100 trekkers and
mountaineers from different parts of the state.
Six French tourists, who were stranded at Syanachatti
area of Uttarkashi district, were rescued yesterday by the
Indian Air Force choppers.
Similarly, members of the last batch of Kailash
Mansarovar Yatra, who got stranded at Gunji for four days due
to inclement weather, were also airlifted by IAF copters.
However, two army officers of Kumaon regiment who were
returning after climbing the 24000-feet-high Kamet Hill had
lost their lives in an avalanche at Ghastoli near Mana pass in
Chamoli district.
A nine-member team from West Bengal has been missing from
Vasukital area near Gaumukh in Uttarkashi district since
September 17. The administration is trying to trace them with
the help of helicopters.
PTI
