Chopper fails to evacuate stranded trekkers

SHIMLA: Nine trekkers, mainly officials of the income tax department from New Delhi who are stranded in a remote hamlet in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, could

SHIMLA: Nine trekkers, mainly officials of the income tax department from New Delhi who are stranded in a remote hamlet in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, could not be airlifted on Friday owing to bad climatic conditions, a government official said.

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“One helicopter was deployed in the morning to airlift the trekkers who have been stranded in Bara Bhangal village for the past two days,” deputy commissioner Ritesh Chauhan said.

He said the state-run chopper could not land in the area due to high velocity winds and bad weather.

“We will definitely again try to evacuate them as the weather gets normal,” he said.

“I spoke to trekkers a day before yesterday (June 1) on the satellite phone and there is no life-threatening situation. All the trekkers have been provided medical aid, accommodation and foodstuff and all are perfect in health,” he said.

But the rescue teams sent to evacuate or to provide them help and supplies are yet to reach the spot, he added.