Eight trekkers remain missing three days after Uttarakhand avalanche

A trekking group of 12 people set out from Gangotri on October 27 with proper authorization from the Forest Department, bound for Kedartal, a high-altitude lake in the Uttarakhand Himalayas. The party comprised seven trekkers, one mountain guide, a cook, and three porters—a typical composition for such expeditions in the region.

Three days after departing, the group encountered an avalanche in the treacherous alpine terrain. While four members of the expedition have been accounted for, eight others remain missing, prompting urgent search and rescue efforts in the area.

Search operations have been hampered by the challenging weather conditions and steep topography characteristic of the Kedartal region, which sits at approximately 4,750 meters above sea level. Rescue teams from local authorities and mountaineering organizations have been mobilized to locate the missing trekkers.

The incident underscores the inherent risks of high-altitude trekking expeditions in the Garhwal Himalayas, where weather can change rapidly and avalanches remain a persistent hazard during certain seasons. Authorities have not yet released details on the exact circumstances of the avalanche or the condition of the four survivors.