40 hikers trapped at high altitude rescued in Uttarkashi, many still stranded

Pilgrims are traveling to a safer place under the guidance of Uttarakhand DDRF in view of possible landslide along the Kedarnath route. File | Photo credit: ANI

Forty tourists and expedition members who were stranded at Kalindi Pass Base and Auden’s Col Base in Uttarkashi were safely evacuated on Monday (September 28, 2026). Officials said many people remained trapped in Uttarkashi and Bageshwar, with bad weather making rescues difficult.

Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Vinod Kumar Suman said about 179 tourists and expedition members were stranded on high-altitude routes and expedition sites in two districts before the bad weather warning reached them.

The groups were spread across Sudarshan, Bhagirathi-II, Jogin-I, Shivling, Satopanth and Shrikhanth Peak, besides trekking routes like Kalindi Pass and Auden’s Col. Among those reported stranded are six foreign nationals.

Eight helicopters deployed

“Out of 179, 40 people in Bageshwar are safe and do not need any evacuation. Besides, 40 people were rescued on Monday,” Suman said. He added that by Tuesday, 20 tourists are expected to reach the designated points from where they will return to the base, while 40 want to continue their expeditions.

Remaining tourists will be evacuated as weather conditions allow, with service scheduled to resume at 6am on Tuesday. Eight helicopters were deployed and a helicopter ambulance remained on standby.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed the operation at the State Emergency Operations Center in Dehradun and directed officials to prioritize the safety of tourists and ensure coordination among rescue agencies.

Incessant rain in Uttarakhand since Saturday night disrupted road connectivity and triggered landslides. More than 112 roads were blocked on Monday while falling boulders on the Kedarnath route halted the yatra.

Published – 28 Sep 2026 11:50 IST