The fate of Tiklu Jyrwa, a mountaineer from Meghalaya, and 40 others who were caught in an avalanche in Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand yesterday morning is still unknown.
Jyrwa who is among the 34 trainee mountaineers and seven instructors from Uttarkashi-based Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) were struck by an avalanche while returning from Mount Draupadi Ka Danda II at an altitude of around 17,000 feet at around 8:45 am yesterday.
35-year-old Jyrwa is a resident of Mynsaiñ, Lumparing here. He is also the brother-in-law of Wallambok Lyngdoh, the general secretary of Meghalaya Sport Climbing and Mountaineering Association (MeSCMA).
Jyrwa’s wife Indalin Lyngdoh Marshilong, his two children and mother-in-law are anxiously waiting for news about his fate.
Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma wrote “Hoping & Praying for the safety of Mr. Tiklu Jyrwa a member of Meghalaya Sport Climbing & Mountaineering Association (MeSCMA), who along with a team of 41 mountaineers was hit by an avalanche at Uttarakhand. Rescue operations are on & we are in touch with SDRF Uttarakhand.”
There were reports that bodies of at least ten mountaineers have been retrieved so far.
Among the dead was Savita Kanswal, who had set a national record by climbing Mount Everest and Mount Makalu within a span of 15 days. She worked as an instructor at NIM.
Further, among the missing is Deepshikha Hazarika from Assam.
According to the official information received from NIM, 15 mountaineers have been safely rescued and brought to NIM. Those rescued do not have any serious injuries.
The National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and a team of mountaineers from the NIM have launched rescue operations.
Reports also said that teams of State Disaster Response Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and NIM today reached the advanced base camp to carry out search and rescue operations.
The Indian Air Force has deployed two helicopters from Sarsawa and one from Bareilly for the operations. (With inputs from news agencies)
