Two bodies found on hiking trail in Uttarakhand; six team members untraced

SDRF personnel conduct search operations to trace missing tourists in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand on November 3, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

The search for eight persons missing after an avalanche hit the Kedartal tourist trail in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand took a grim turn on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) as rescue teams recovered the bodies of a woman and a man.

The identity of the deceased is not yet known and rescuers are racing against time to find the remaining six people.

Eight persons – two from Uttar Pradesh, five from West Bengal and one guide – went missing on 30 October. Search operations in the area were hampered by heavy snowfall.

According to an update from the Uttarkashi District Emergency Operations Centre, the bodies were recovered during a renewed search by a joint team of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM).

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The operation is taking place at an altitude of around 4,000 meters, where blizzards and difficult terrain have slowed down the search for the fifth day in a row. The search was called off around 3:00 p.m., and personnel returned to base camp. Another search operation is planned for Wednesday.

A group consisting of seven tourists and six support workers left Gangotri on 27 October and was scheduled to return by 29 October. However, snow, bad weather and glaciers along the trail disrupted their journey. On October 30, the trekking agency sent porters and guides to clear the route. They managed to clear about six kilometers of the trail. Five people were later found safe while eight remained stranded beyond Bhojkhadak after the avalanche.

Meanwhile, authorities have suspended permits for hikes at altitudes of 4,000 meters and above due to inclement weather. It was decided by Gangotri National Park and Uttarkashi Forest Division. The Gaumukh-Tapovan route was also closed after heavy snowfall on 29 October. No new permits are issued for Kedartal, Kalindi Khal or Udankol routes.

Published – 03 Nov 2026 23:07 IST