Uttarakhand: 14 foreign trekkers including two Indian guides stranded in Pindari glacier amid heavy snowfall

A team of foreign trekkers got stuck in Pindari Glacier due to heavy snowfall. Their ration and other belongings are reported to be buried in snow. Contact with the trackers has been lost since 8.30 am on Friday. The team consists of 14 American climbers, including two Indian guides and eight women. The administration has been alerted on the information of the trackers being trapped. The team has been sent to the spot with relief material. All the crew are said to be safe.

A team of two Indian guides and 14 foreign trekkers has gone trekking to the Pindari Glacier. On April 3, the team proceeded after registering at Jankuni, the last check post of the forest department. Due to bad weather, the team had to stay at Khati village for a few days.

Shankar Dutt Pandey, the ranger of the Glacier Range, told that the team has to go to Munsiyari while crossing the Pindari Glacier. The team was reported to be at Zero Point till 17 April. After this, when the team moved forward, the weather started getting worse. In the early hours of Friday, heavy snowfall was reported in Pindari Glacier and the team got stuck at a distance of five km from the zero point.

Kapkot’s SDM Monika said that the trackers were reported to be safe on Friday morning. Information about his location has not been received since 8:30 am. Five personnel of SDRF, a joint team of Revenue, Health, Police and Forest Department have been sent towards the glacier with relief material.
these people are trapped

Those trapped in the snow include two Indian guides Pranesh from Bengaluru and Gaurav Pant from Kaladhungi and 14 American climbers, including eight women. These include Sarah Martin, Aidan Glemenkohn, Alison Maye, Bettyn Wright, Caitlin Piper, William Carter, Connor White, Alice Dilicia, Emily Sarmiento, Laine Pickell, Lily Wheeler, Logan Moya, Samuel Closeworthy and Taylor Joy Penjunen.

Team goes to Munsiyari every year via Pindari
District Tourism Development Officer Kirti Chandra Arya said that every year a team of foreign trekkers visit the glaciers through a Ranikhet-based company. The team members proceed to Munsiyari from Pindari via Trail Pass. This series is going on for the last 20-21 years. Told that due to heavy snowfall in the glacier, there is information about the belongings of the team being buried. Some trekkers had also come from Nainital and other places on the glacier tracking, who have returned down before the weather turned bad.

DM asked for two helicopters for search and rescue
District Magistrate Anuradha Pal told that all the members of the team are safe. Two helicopters have been requisitioned from the government for search and rescue. If needed, cooperation of NDRF will also be taken. This matter is being closely monitored.