10 Killed, 29 Trapped as Avalanche Hits Uttarakhand’s Danda-2 Peak

Over 10 people have died with 29 mountaineers from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering trapped after an avalanche hit Draupadi’s Danda-2 Mountain peak in Uttarakhand on Tuesday.  

According to ANI, Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar has said that eight of the trainees have been rescued safely. The institute’s Principal Amit Bisht has said that rapid relief operations are presently underway to rescue those trapped, as per PTI.

DGP Kumar also said that IAF helicopters have been deployed for search and rescue operations to the peak that is located in the Gangotri range of the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand.

In a tweet, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “Rapid relief and rescue operations are being carried out by the district administration, NDRF, SDRF, Army and ITBP personnel along with the team of NIM to rescue the trainees trapped in the avalanche in Draupadi’’s Danda-2 Mountain peak at the earliest.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his grief over the incident, “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. I have instructed the IAF to mount the rescue and relief ops. Praying for everyone’s safety and well-being.”