Eight trekkers go missing in Himachal Pradesh

Manali: Eight trekkers, mostly from Punjab, who were on their way to Chanderkhani peak in the Manali region lost contact due to inclement weather, an official said on Friday, adding that a search was on to find them.

Police parties and members of the trekking team failed to locate the trekkers as the area has been witnessing intermittent snowfall since early Friday, Manali sub-divisional magistrate Jyoti Rana, who was monitoring the search operation, told IANS.

"We have deployed three rescue teams comprising 18 to 20 people to search for the trekkers," she said.

She said the missing people, including a resident, left for trekking on Thursday from Naggar near here. One of them established contact with the police and sought help.

"No contact has been established with anyone so far," Rana added.

Beyond the Chanderkhani peak at an elevation of 3,600 metre lies Malana village, which earned notoriety for cultivating Malana Cream, a prized hashish.