Uttarakhand: IAF helicopters rescue missing trekkers stranded in Rudraprayag
India Today
Trekkers who went missing in Uttarakhand have been rescued by Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers. The team had gone missing due to sudden snowfall on the Pandav Sera trek route in Rudraprayag.
At least seven people, along with three trekkers, were safely rescued with the help of Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, reported news agency PTI. The trekkers had gone missing on the Pandav Shera trek route in Prayagraj due to sudden snowfall at a height of around 4,500 metres two days back.
They were brought to Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) hospital in Chamoli for a medical examination.
Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajvar told news agency PTI that the rescue operation began at 5.30 am and all the seven stranded people were brought to the Gauchar helipad by 6:45 am.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched a search and rescue operation after trekkers went missing and a chopper was also arranged by the Civil Aviation Department for quick rescue.
After the SDRF team received information from the District Control room in Rudraprayag, a high altitude team was deployed for rescue work. Also, Deputy Inspector General of Police, SDRF, Riddhim Agarwal had ordered a quick rescue, reported ANI.
Under the direction of Commander SDRF, Manikant Mishra, the High Altitude Rescue Team of SDRF was dispatched to Pandav Shera track through a chopper from Sahastradhara helipad with necessary rescue equipment and satellite phones for a quick rescue.
Three trekkers and four porters had embarked on the trek to Pandav Shera on May 21 without getting administrative clearance. They got stranded on the way due to inclement weather and rain, Rajvar said.
