Kalindi Khal trek guide falls ill at Uttarkashi base camp, dies: Official - Hindustan Times
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Kalindi Khal trek guide falls ill at Uttarkashi base camp, dies: Official

Jun 06, 2023 04:08 PM IST

Kalindi Khal trek: The 13-day trek was to start from Gangotri in Uttarkashi district and culminate 110km away at Badrinath in Chamoli district

Dehradun: A trekking agency’s guide, who was accompanying a group of trekkers that left for the Kalindi Khal trek from Gangotri on May 23, died at the base camp after he fell unwell, according to Uttarkashi district officials who received information about the death on June 4.

Officials said the male trekker who died at the base camp was yet to be identified (Photo: northhimalayanholidays.com)
Officials said the male trekker who died at the base camp was yet to be identified (Photo: northhimalayanholidays.com)

According to a statement by the Uttarkashi district disaster management office, a rescue team including porters hired by the trekking agency, North Himalayan Holiday, was sent on Monday to retrieve the body at the base camp at a height of about 5,500 metres. The remaining trekkers in the group have returned safely.

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According to the agency’s website, the 13-day trek was to start from Gangotri in Uttarkashi district and culminate 110km away at Badrinath in Chamoli district and required prior experience in high-altitude treks.

Officials said the agency also requested a helicopter for the mission but the available civilian helicopters cannot make the sortie. A specialised helicopter is required for this mission since civilian helicopters can’t fly at this height, said Devendra Patwal, Uttarkashi district disaster management officer or DDMO.

Patwal added that the group of trekkers, all Indians, received permission for the trek on May 22. They left the following day.

“On June 4, we received information from the trekking agency that one of the trekkers died at the base camp after his health deteriorated. They requested a helicopter to recover the body for which we have written to the state government. The body is still lying at the base camp which is at about 5,500 metres, while the remaining trekkers have come out of Gangotri national park,” he said.

Manoj Rawat, who runs the trekking agency, told HT that the guide Bipender alias Bipin Rana died on June 1 after his health condition deteriorated at the base camp. Rawat said Bipender did not have any health concerns when the 14-member group started the trek.

Rawat said they have sent two teams including 16-17 porters to retrieve the body from the base camp. “One team left on Monday, while one left today. Our utmost priority is to recover the body. The extremely bad weather is a challenge,” he said.

Officials said military choppers have been requisitioned in the past for operations to rescue stranded trekkers. In May last year, an Indian Air Force chopper rescued seven trekkers stranded on the Pandav Shera trek area in Rudraprayag district at a height of 4500 metres. In October last year.

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