Death toll in Indian Himalayas avalanche rises to 7, with 1 still missing
The death toll from an avalanche in India's northern Uttarakhand state rose to seven on Friday after rescuers recovered another body, while one person remained missing, local media reported.
cumhuriyet.com.trA joint team from the State Disaster Response Force and Nehru Institute of Mountaineering recovered the body near Kedarkhadak in Uttarkashi district, according to the Press Trust of India news agency, as cited by the Hindustan Times newspaper.
The two victims recovered Thursday were identified as Rintu Mandal, 40, and Uday Ghosh, 30, both from West Bengal's Bankura district.
Rescuers have struggled through 3 to 3.7 meters (10 to 12 feet) of accumulated snow, unstable terrain and adverse weather conditions.
The recovered bodies were transported to a base camp before being airlifted to Uttarkashi.
The trekking expedition departed Gangotri on Oct. 27 and was scheduled to return on Oct. 29, but heavy snowfall and avalanches blocked the route.
Four members of the expedition were rescued earlier, while eight others remained stranded.
Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, with a report expected within a week, according to the Hindustan Times newspaper.
Rescue operations are continuing to locate the missing person.