Uttarakhand Avalanche: 28 mountaineers trapped at Danda-2 peak; Cheetah choppers carries rescue

Up to 28 people could be trapped in an avalanche that struck Draupadi's Danda-2 mountain summit, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami notified on Tuesday.

Rescue operations are underway to rescue the trapped, all trainees of the Nehru Mountaineering Institute of Uttarkashi.

As per IAF officials, two Cheetah helicopters have been deployed by IAF for rescue & relief operations in Uttarkashi area where a mountaineering team of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering has been hit by an avalanche. All other fleets of choppers have been put on standby for any further requirement.


According to preliminary reports avalanche hit the team around 9 AM today.

"Information about 28 trainees of Nehru Mountaineering Institute being trapped following an avalanche in Draupadi's Danda-2 mountain peak has been received. Rapid, relief and rescue operations underway by the district administration, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel," CM 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," tweeted the chief minister Dhami.

In a rush to save the trainees trapped in an avalanche, a SDRF team left from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun for rescue work.

CM Dhami said that he has spoken to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and requested for help from the army to speed up the rescue operation.

"He has assured us to give every possible help from the Centre. A rescue operation is being conducted to bring out everyone," Dhami said.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also took to Twitter and expressed his anguish to the loss of lives and consoled the bereaved families who lost their family members.

"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," Rajnath Singh said via a tweet.

"Spoke to CM Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Dhami and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to help the mountaineers who are still trapped. I have instructed the IAF to mount the rescue and relief ops. Praying for everyone's safety and well-being," Singh said.