Avalanche hits Draupadi's Danda-2 peak in Uttarakhand; 8 rescued, 4 casualties confirmed

Update: As many as four mountaineers have been killed in an avalanche at Mount Draupadi Ka Danda- II peak in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, informed the sources. A team of 34 trainee mountaineers and seven instructors from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) was caught in an avalanche while returning, said NIM Principal Colonel Amit Bisht said. The bodies of deceased mountaineers have been recovered, he added.

Taking stock of the avalanche in Uttarkashi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his grief and called the incident "Unfortunate". He tweeted, "I have spoken to the officials in this regard. Local administration, SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, and Army teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations with full readiness"

At least 28 trainees of Nehru Mountaineering Institute are feared to be trapped after an avalanche struck Uttarakhand's Danda-2 mountain peak on Tuesday. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami informed that IAF, NDRF, SDRF, Army & ITBP teams have been deployed for rapid relief and rescue operations to save the mountaineers. 

While the SDRF teams have left from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun to rescue the trainees trapped in an avalanche in Uttarkashi, Indian Air Force have deployed two Cheetah helicopters in relief operations. 'All other fleets of choppers have been put on standby for any other requirement,' IAF officials said.

Dhami further informed that he has also spoken to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and has requested him to provide the help of the army to speed up the rescue operation. "After talking to the Defense Minister Rajnath Singh ji, we have requested to take the help of the army to speed up the rescue operation, for which he has assured us to give all possible help from the central government. A rescue operation is being conducted to rescue everyone," he tweeted.

Rescue operations underway 

Following Uttarakhand Chief Minister's request, the Defence Minister informed instructed the IAF to mount the rescue and relief operations. "Spoke to Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to help the mountaineers who are still trapped," Singh said, adding, "I have instructed the IAF to mount the rescue and relief ops. Praying for everyone’s safety and well-being."

Further expressing his grief over the incident, the Defence Minister said, "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."