Two more bodies were recovered from a tourist trail in Uttarakhand

SDRF officials carry the remains of a missing tourist to be airlifted to a hospital in Uttarkashi, Wednesday, November 4, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

Two more bodies were recovered from the avalanche-hit Kedartal trekking route in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand on Thursday (November 5, 2026), taking the death toll to six.

As rescue teams continued to search for two more missing tourists, families waiting for news began to lose hope.

According to the district administration, the two bodies found on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) have been identified as Rintu Mondol (40) and Uday Ghosh (30), both residents of Bankur in West Bengal. Six bodies have been found at the site so far, including two from today.

Eight people from the 13-member expedition cut off the route after heavy snowfall and numerous avalanches. Among the people who went missing were seven tourists — Tapas Bauri, Ratan Ghosh, Mr. Mondal, Mr. Ghosh, Manoj Khawas, all from West Bengal; Vartika and Deepika Verma, sisters from Lucknow — and local guide Siddharth Rana.

The group left Gangotri on 27 October for a three-day trek and was scheduled to return on 29 October. Four aid workers were rescued on October 31 near Kachchi Dhang.

A ten-member mountain rescue team was airlifted to the area on 2 November, but fresh snowfall briefly halted operations.

A painful wait

For families waiting in Uttarkashi and West Bengal for news of missing persons, the recovery of six bodies brought devastating news.

Mr Bauri’s nephew Vishwajeet, who is among the missing tourists, said his family was gradually coming to terms with the possibility that he might not return.

“I don’t think I will see my uncle alive,” he said, adding that Mr. Bauri, who used to work in an iron goods factory, had saved money for the trek.

Published – 5 Nov 2026 22:35 IST