In the case of stranded mountaineers in Pithoragarh district, the District administration has informed that five bodies were spotted by a helicopter of Indian Air Force on Monday. Pithoragarh District Magistrate Vijay Kumar Jogdande said that the spotted mountaineers are presumed to be dead. A mission to retrieve their bodies will be conducted as soon as the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Indian Air Force are ready.

DM Jogdande told The Pioneer, “An IAF helicopter spotted five bodies on Monday at an elevation of 5,000 feet. They’re presumed to be dead and are in the middle of an avalanche affected site. The other three missing climbers might also be near the five bodies and are also presumed to be dead. For retrieving their bodies we will start working as soon as others including ITBP and Army are ready.”

Pithoragarh Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) RC Rajguru said, “The rescue mission will start for the missing eight mountaineers on Tuesday if the weather permits. ITBP, SDRF and two helicopters of IAF will be involved in the mission. District police will work on ground mobilisation.”

It is pertinent to mention here that a 12 member crew of mountain climbers from Himalyan Run and Trek Private Limited, Delhi went for trekking on May 10. On May 31, the company e-mailed the Pithoragarh district administration that four of the climbers had returned to the base camp, but eight others had failed to do so. Among the eight mountaineers one is Indian, one Australian, two from United States of America and four from United Kingdom.