A 22-member trekking team went missing en route to Sahastra Tal in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand on June 4. Unfortunately, 9 of them lost their lives during this tragedy while the others are still trying to come to terms with the entire incident. The 13 survivors were rescued and brought to a Dehradun hospital in Uttarakhand where they recalled “sitting with dead bodies for nearly 36 hours” before the rescue teams found them.
Survivors Recall Horrifying Uttarakhand Trekking Tragedy Experience
A 22-member trekking team ventured on a trekking expedition to Sahastra Tal, Uttarakhand on May 29 and was supposed to return on June 7. Unfortunately, they lost their way due to bad weather and were trapped on the route. While 13 of them have been rescued, 9 trekkers lost their lives in this tragedy in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand.
S Srivatsa, Secretary of Karnataka Mountaineering Association, spoke to PTI and gave a brief insight on how this incident has impacted the survivors. He spoke about how the trekkers were caught in the blizzard and couldn’t move ahead due to low visibility and heavy winds. They ended up taking shelter next to a big boulder. However, due to “exhaustion, hypothermia, and lack of sufficient oxygen,” four of them collapsed at first. The other five collapsed later due to the same reasons.
He further recalled the scene he was met with at the Dehradun hospital where the survivors were brought in. S Srivatsa told PTI that they were all shocked, shattered, and depressed as some of them sat with the bodies of their fellow trekkers for nearly 36 hours!
While survivors weren’t able to talk much about this incident, they did mention that they were still in shock and were saddened by the lives lost in this tragedy. They also thanked the government and the authorities for their help.
What Happened On The Sahastra Tal Trek
The 22-member trekking team went missing on June 4 after getting caught in a blizzard. This extreme turn of events caught the trekkers by surprise. According to S Srivatsa, the members were all physically fit and experienced, and the tragedy happened only because of the fatal bad weather.
Upon getting the news of the trapped trekking team, the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi got in touch with the Joint Secretary of the Central Defence Department for air rescue and the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for ground rescue assistance. They launched multiple rescue operations and were able to save 13 members of this team. The SDRF were also able to bring down all nine bodies of the deceased. They have respectfully handed over the bodies to their respective families for final rites.
Our condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. We can’t imagine what the survivors went through while they were waiting to be rescued. We hope that with proper help and assistance, they are able to get through this tough time.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)
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