After many days of extensive research for the recovery of eighth missing mountaineer on Nanda Devi east peak, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) may abandon the search. According to the official sources, the idea is to first identify the bodies recovered and find out which one is still missing. On the other hand, the team from Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) has safely returned to Bageshwar headquarters on Tuesday.
Official ITBP spokesman Vivek Pandey said, “The team of mountaineers has shifted all the seven bodies to base camp I at 15,250 feet, where a temporary helipad has been established. The bodies will be taken to Munsyari first through Indian Air Force helicopters and then to Pithoragarh district. At what time they will be lifted from base camp I will depend on the weather conditions.”
When asked about the last body that is yet to be recovered he said, “Our teams have carried out search at the mishap site for hours, but we have not found any clue so far. So, we planned to at least carry the other bodies to Pithoragarh first.
About the IMF team expediting from Pindari glacier in Bageshwar district, District Magistrate (DM) Ranjana Rajguru said, “All team members reached Bageshwar headquarters on Monday night. The pharmacist of State Disaster Response Force, who went with them till the advance camp, has also returned safely. Throughout their expedition we were constantly in contact and were getting information every day.””
Speaking on behalf of IMF, Colonel HS Chauhan said, “They stayed in the advance camp for 7-8 days. It is not safe to stay at high altitude for longer period of time. Due to their extended time in the mountain we had to withdraw them.”
It is pertinent to mention here eight mountaineers reportedly went missing from May 26, when they failed to reach at Nanda Devi East base camp. After which an expedition was conducted by ITBP and seven of them were recovered. The recovered bodies include those of one woman climber and one Indian climber. Their official verification procedure will be done in Pithoragarh district.