The search and retrieval team of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) deployed in the search and retrieval operation in Nanda Devi east massif has taken up the bodies of four mountaineers to the highest point of ridge at 18900 feet altitude on Monday. The ITBP spokesman Vivek Pandey informed that the bodies would be taken further to Base Camp I helipad located at an altitude of 15,250 feet probably by Tuesday evening. The team took eleven hours to take the bodies from 17850 feet to the ridge. The spokesman added that the remaining three bodies will be carried on Tuesday to the ridge.
“All bodies will be taken to Base Camp 1 temporary helipad, probably by Tuesday evening. The bodies will be further airlifted to Munsyari and then to Pithoragarh from July 3 onward if the weather permits. The operation is taking time as ITBP team is taking all precautions with best mountaineering skills and trying to take utmost care while carrying the bodies with dignity and honour,’’ the ITBP spokesman added.
It will be recalled that a team of eight mountaineers went missing on May 26 while attempting to scale Nanda Devi East. Later seven bodies were found lying in the snow by the search and rescue team of ITBP while the body of the eighth mountaineer could not be found.