8 Missing, Including 5 Youths from Bankura, in Kedartal Trek Avalanche; Two Bodies Recovered

Bankura: The bodies of a man and a woman, among the eight trekkers missing due to an avalanche during the Kedartal trek, have been recovered from beneath the snow, according to information received by the Bankura district administration. The bodies are yet to be identified. On October 29, a group of 12 trekkers was caught in a massive avalanche near Kedar Khadak while descending from Kedartal Lake in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. While four of them managed to return safely, eight others—including five youths from Bankura, two women trekkers from Uttar Pradesh, and a local guide—went missing. The Uttarakhand Disaster Response Force, Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, and other rescue agencies launched a joint search operation, leading to the recovery of two bodies from beneath the snow. The search operation is ongoing. The missing individuals from Bankura include Rintu Mondal, Tapas Bouri, Ratan Ghosh, Uday Ghosh, and Manoj Khawas. Rintu, Tapas, Ratan, and Uday are residents of Anchuri Shalboni village in Bankura-2 block, while Manoj is from Keshra village. Rintu and Tapas work in a sponge iron factory, Ratan helps his father at his tea stall, Uday works in a factory in Barjora, and Manoj works in promotions. Although they had been on trekking expeditions many times before, none of their families imagined such a danger would befall them. They had left Bankura on October 24. According to Rintu's elder brother, Sintu Mondal, he last spoke to his brother on the phone on October 26, when Rintu said he would be unavailable on his mobile phone for the next five to six days. They have heard that two bodies have been recovered, and they pray for the safe return of his brother and all his friends. Bankura District Magistrate Anish Dasgupta stated that search operations are underway in regular coordination with the Uttarkashi administration. A seven-member group of family members from Bankura has left for Uttarkashi.