Avalanche in Uttarakhand's Danda-2 Updates: PM Modi Expresses Grief Over Loss of Lives, Says Situation Closely Monitored by Officials

It is saddening that we have lost precious lives of those associated with a NIM Uttarkashi mountaineering expedition. Condolences to the bereaved families. Rescue operations are underway and the situation is being closely monitored by the authorities: PM Modi

A 5-member team of SDRF and 3 NIM instructors were dropped by helicopter at Dokriani glacier today, the Uttarakhand government said. The IAF has apprised that trainee mountaineers hit by an avalanche are trapped at 17,000 feet. Rescue operation to resume tomorrow morning.

In the wake of the Uttarakhand avalanche, a look at what sets off this natural disaster and how deadly an avalanche event can be. NEWS18 EXPLAINS IN GFX

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday condoled the loss of lives in an avalanche in Uttarakhand and said he was praying for the safe return of those missing and speedy recovery of the injured. “News of the avalanche in Uttarakhand, which has claimed many lives, is distressing. Heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones,” Gandhi said. “Praying for the safe return of those missing, and speedy recovery of those injured,” he said.

At least four mountaineers were killed after a group of 34 trainees and seven instructors from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) were caught in an avalanche at Mount Draupadi Ka Danda – II peak in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, said NIM Principal Colonel Amit Bisht said. READ MORE

The missing or dead mountaineers are young, hailing from Karnataka and a couple of other states, sources told CNN-News18. An avalanche at Draupadi Ka Danda peak in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district trapped 29 mountaineers from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering on Tuesday.

Uttarakhand SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra told 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.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a tweet said, “The incident of avalanche in Uttarkashi is very sad. 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.”

Ten mountaineers were killed in an avalanche at Mount Draupadi Ka Danda – II peak in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, officials said. A team of 34 trainee mountaineers and seven instructors from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) was caught in an avalanche while returning, NIM Principal Colonel Amit Bisht said. Ten bodies were sighted, of which four have been recovered, he added. The avalanche occurred at 8.45 am, he said.

Eight mountaineers were rescued by their team members and efforts are on to bring the rest to safety, Uttarkashi Disaster Management Officer Devendra Patwal said. An avalanche at Draupadi Ka Danda peak in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district trapped 29 mountaineers from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering on Tuesday.

According to officials, IAF was pressed into action as soon as they received information about the avalanche. Survivors are currently being brought down to the ITBP operated helipad. READ MORE

Delhi | What we’re learning from the administration is that no one is missing. Yet to get any further updates on this: ITBP PRO Vivek Pandey

Sources have told News18 that all trapped mountaineers have been ‘taken out’ by authorities and than 27 have been reported as injured.

ITBP, NDRF, SDRF & local police started the rescue op as soon as info received. All injured & stranded will be taken to a helipad at almost 13,000 ft first from where they will be brought down to Matli helipad. Will be using ITBP hospital: ITBP PRO Vivek Pandey to ANI.

Many feared dead after at least 28 people were caught in an avalanche in Draupadi’s Danda-2 mountain peak in Uttarakhand. A group of at least 170 mountaineers were training when the incident reportedly took place. SDRF teams are enroute Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun to rescue the trainees trapped in the avalanche. READ MORE

The National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and a team of mountaineers from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering have already launched rescue operations, Dhami said in a tweet. The chief minister also spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over phone and sought the Army’s help in speeding up the rescue operations.

A group of 29 trainee mountaineers from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering were trapped in an avalanche at Draupadi Ka Danda peak in Uttarkashi district on Tuesday, prompting Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to seek the Army’s help to expedite rescue operations. Eight mountaineers have been safely evacuated, official have said.