Third body recovered from avalanche zone
The death toll in the Kedartal avalanche in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district rose to three on Wednesday after rescue teams recovered the body of another male trekker from the high-altitude route. The recovery came as multi-agency teams continued searching for the remaining members of a trekking group that lost contact after the avalanche on October 29.
State Disaster Response Force Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi said two bodies had been recovered on Tuesday and one more on Wednesday. The operation to locate the other missing trekkers remained under way, with teams working in terrain affected by glaciers, snowfall, difficult approaches and severe weather.
“The search and rescue operation is underway on a war footing. Despite severe challenges posed by difficult terrain, glaciers, snowfall, and extreme weather, teams from SDRF, NDRF, NIM, forest, police, and revenue departments are continuously working on the ground,” Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya said.
Bodies moved for identification
The recovered bodies were flown by helicopter to the Matli helipad in Uttarkashi at 11:52 am, according to Arya. They were then taken to the district hospital mortuary, where identification and postmortem procedures were to be carried out. The recovery and transfer of the bodies mark an important step for the families awaiting confirmation, even as the search for survivors and other missing members continues in hazardous conditions.
The missing group included five male trekkers from West Bengal, two female trekkers from Uttar Pradesh and a local guide from Uttarkashi, according to the information released by officials. The latest recovery was of a man. The operation has therefore involved teams trying to establish the whereabouts of people from different states as well as a local member familiar with the area.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Route | Kedartal, Uttarkashi district |
| Date of avalanche | October 29 |
| Deaths confirmed | Three |
| Missing group described by officials | Eight people |
| Expedition began | October 27 from Gangotri |
| Altitude of Kedartal | 15,485 feet (4,720 metres) |
Logistical support sent to rescue teams
Relief supplies were also delivered to personnel deployed in the search area. About 50 kg of ration, essential butane gas and other material were sent to the teams, officials said. In a remote mountain operation, maintaining supplies for rescuers is as important as reaching the stranded or missing, particularly when snowfall, unstable surfaces and limited access can delay movement.
The operation involves personnel from the SDRF, National Disaster Response Force, Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, forest department, police and revenue department. The district administration said activities were being monitored through a Smart Control Room to coordinate the deployment of available rescue resources. Helicopter support has been used to move recovered bodies and deliver supplies.
Expedition route and timeline
The 12-member expedition, described as comprising seven trekkers and five support personnel, left Gangotri on October 27. It was scheduled to complete the circuit by October 29. The avalanche struck near Kedar Kharak as the expedition was descending from Kedartal, a glacial lake located at an elevation of 15,485 feet.
Earlier in the operation, teams recovered tents and bags near Kedar Kharak, identified as the second major campsite on the trail. Such belongings can help rescuers understand the group’s last known position and the route taken before contact was lost, but the continuing search remains constrained by the mountain environment.
- Three bodies have been recovered so far.
- The remaining missing trekkers are still being searched for.
- Rescue agencies are operating amid glaciers, snowfall, extreme weather and difficult terrain.
- Recovered bodies have been taken to the Uttarkashi district hospital mortuary for identification and postmortem.
High-altitude risks remain central to the search
The incident has once again highlighted the risks faced on Uttarakhand’s high-altitude trekking routes, where weather can change rapidly and access is often dependent on narrow trails, glacier crossings and air support. The Kedartal route rises to an altitude where cold, snowfall and reduced accessibility can complicate even routine movement. For the families waiting for news, the uncertainty is compounded by the time and danger involved in reaching the search zone.
For now, officials have said the search will continue. The recovery of a third body has brought a grim confirmation of the avalanche’s impact, but the operation remains focused on locating the other missing people and bringing them back from the mountain. The administration’s immediate priorities are search coordination, safe deployment of rescuers, medical and mortuary procedures, and communication with the families as the effort proceeds.
