10 mountaineers killed in Uttarakhand Avalanche, rescue ops underway; Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoles death

Rescue operations are underway to rescue the trapped, all trainees of the Nehru Mountaineering Institute of Uttarkashi. According to preliminary reports avalanche hit the team around 9 AM today.

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At least ten mountaineers lost their lives in an avalanche at Mount Draupadi's Danda 2 peak in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, officials said. Rescue operations are underway to rescue the 34 trapped trainee mountaineers and seven instructors of the Nehru Mountaineering Institute of Uttarkashi. NIM Principal Colonel Amit Bisht said that "Ten bodies were sighted, of which four have been recovered." According to reports avalanche hit the team at 8.45.

The DGP of the area has said that eight climbers have been safely rescued so far, while several others reported to be missing.

Meanwhile, 2 cheetah choppers of the Indian Air Force were deployed for rescuing the trapped mountaineers, an IAF official informed."All other fleets are on standby", he added.

Uttarakhand SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra tells ANI that there is continuous heavy snowfall on Draupadi's Danda-2 mountain peak. Despite this, recce efforts are underway through IAF helicopters to rescue NIM mountaineering trainees.

Taking to Twitter, Uttrakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said,  "Information about 28 trainees of Nehru Mountaineering Institute being trapped following an avalanche in Draupadi`s Danda-2 mountain peak has been received. Rapid, relief and rescue operations underway by the district administration, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel."

द्रौपदी का डांडा-2 पर्वत चोटी में हिमस्खलन में फंसे प्रशिक्षार्थियों को जल्द से जल्द सकुशल बाहर निकालने के लिए NIM की टीम के साथ जिला प्रशासन, NDRF, SDRF, सेना और ITBP के जवानों द्वारा तेजी से राहत एवं बचाव कार्य चलाया जा रहा है। — Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) October 4, 2022

"Rapid relief and rescue operations are being carried out by the district administration, NDRF, SDRF, Army and ITBP personnel along with the team of NIM to rescue the trainees trapped in the avalanche in Draupadi`s Danda-2 mountain peak at the earliest," tweeted the chief minister Dhami.

An SDRF team left from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun has rushed to rescue the trainees trapped in avalanche for rescue work. CM Dhami said that he has spoken to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and requested help from the army to speed up the rescue operation."He has assured us to give every possible help from the Centre. A rescue operation is being conducted to bring out everyone," Dhami said.

Uttarakhand | SDRF teams leave from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun to rescue the trainees trapped in an avalanche in Draupadi's Danda-2 mountain peak pic.twitter.com/kYRRgLAwwh — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 4, 2022

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also took to Twitter and expressed his anguish about the loss of lives and consoled the bereaved families who lost their family members.

"Deeply anguished by the loss of precious lives due to a landslide which has struck the mountaineering expedition carried out by the Nehru Mountaineering Institute in Uttarkashi. My condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones," Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.

Deeply anguished by the loss of precious lives due to landslide which has struck the mountaineering expedition carried out by the Nehru Mountaineering Institute in Uttarkashi. My condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. 1/2 — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 4, 2022

"Spoke to CM Uttarakhand, Shri @PushkarDhamiand took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to help the mountaineers who are still trapped. I have instructed the IAF to mount the rescue and relief ops. Praying for everyone`s safety and well-being," Singh said. 

(With agency inputs)