In the case of eight mountaineers presumed dead near Nanda Devi East peak, irregular weather conditions in Pithoragarh have once again halted the retrieving mission of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The 15-personnel of ITBP team including eight leading men with expertise in high altitude climbing and equipment weighing nearly 1500 kilogrammes were dropped at Nanda Devi base camp on Saturday through Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper. On the other hand, the team of Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) has set their advance base camp and are now reconnaissance for the next camp.
Pithoragarh District Magistrate (DM) Vijay Kumar Jogdande said, “Some of the ITBP personnel were dropped at Nanda Devi East base camp on Saturday by IAF chopper Mi-17. Due to the weather conditions on Sunday the remaining five personnel who will be climbing could not be dropped. It will now be done on Monday if the weather permits. The IAF chopper will remain in Pithoragarh for the next 10 days. The rest of the personnel of 32-member team will be staying at the base camp as support staff.”
Official spokesman of ITBP Vivek Pandey said, “Fifteen of our members including eight leading climbers were dropped at Nanda Devi East base camp on Saturday along with equipment. Five more personnel with equipment were to be dropped at the base camp on Sunday but the bad weather condition did not permit it.”
He further added, “Such expeditions require small team. Our 20 personnel will be doing the expedition and the rest will stay at the base camp. For now the team is in acclimatising phase and is trying to assess the conditions. They went to reconnoitre near the base camp on Saturday; they would have done it again on Sunday weather permitting. They will be able to start climbing by Wednesday or Thursday.”
On behalf of IMF, wing commander Amit Chaudhary said, “Our team has set up its advance base camp and five of our members stayed there at night. They are now scouting for the next camp. They may have to set up a camp or two more to get near the mishap site. The weather conditions are not that alarming as of now. Something certain can only be said after June 19.”
It is pertinent to mention that eight mountaineers one Indian, one Australian, two from United States of America and four from United Kingdom are feared dead while attempting to scale Nanda Devi East. An IAF helicopter had spotted five bodies on June 3 at an elevation of 5,000 metres. The mountaineers are presumed to be dead and were spotted in the middle of an avalanche affected area.