Last two stranded trekkers airlifted to safety
KULLU: Rescuers on Monday airlifted the two stranded trekkers from Chanderkhani pass.
“The rescue operation that had to be suspended on Sunday due to bad weather was resumed around 7.30 pm and the two trekkers were airlifted from near the cave inside which they had to spend the night,” says Kullu deputy commissioner Hansraj Chauhan. They were first taken to Manali and then shifted to the regional hospital in Kullu, he added. Six were airlifted on Sunday evening.
The condition of all rescued trekkers, mostly from Punjab, is stable, said chief medical officer YD Sharma.
LOST WAY DUE TO FOG
Seven students of the Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology in Punjab’s Sangrur along with their trekking instructor lost their way due to inclement weather while trekking to the Chanderkhani peak in Kullu district.
Talking to HT, Hitender Ver ma, a native of Theog, Shimla, who was rescued on Monday, “We started our journey on Friday 8 (Tuesday) and travelled towards Bijli Mahdev in Kharahl valley. We spent the night near Solatanki. The next morning we moved toward the Jana area, however, as we were not aware of the exact path, we decided to spend there.”
“The plan was to visit the Chanderkhani pass. However, on Friday, the weather turned hostile and we could not move towards the high-altitude pass. We had to retreat and lost way due to foggy conditions. As two of our friends were barely able to walk, we had to put up a tent in middle of the forest.”
SOS SENT ON MARCH 11
On March 11, local youth Bharat Prakash Kayastha contacted his family and told them that they had been trapped in the area and asked for immediate help. His family immediately informed police.
The same day, a team of 11 persons was sent to trace the missing youths. However, due to bad weather the team failed to locate the trekkers.
On March 12, two additional teams were sent but again rough weather hampered their ascent. In the noon, the district administration conducted a sortie from Kullu and Manali side and sighted footsteps of trekkers in the area. This revived hopes of officials.