By IANS
Dehradun : Unusually heavy snowfall in the Kalindi Khal area of Uttarakhand compelled a four-member Russian group to abandon their Himalayan trekking expedition Saturday.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter was requisitioned to evacuate the trapped team.
“While a woman member of the Russian team and a porter were evacuated Saturday morning, IAF helicopters were making sorties to airlift the others,” a government official told IANS.
Kalindi Khal area in Chamoli district is over 5,900 metres above sea level and about 45 km from Dehradun.
An Indian four-member mountaineering expedition was also abandoned while on its way to Panchachuli following the death of a mountaineer Thursday, according to delayed reports reaching here.
IAF rescue teams airlifted the deceased mountaineer’s body Saturday morning. A special squad of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was assisting others trapped in the snow.
“The Russian group was on a trekking expedition to Kalindi Khal while the Indian team were on their way to Panchachuli peak when an unusually early and heavy snowfall in the upper reaches left them trapped midway,” said K.S. Napalchyal, Uttarakhand principal secretary for disaster management.
As soon as “district authorities received the information, help of the nearest IAF and ITBP units was sought. I’m sure all team members will be evacuated safely.”