Overview
- An avalanche on Thursday, October 29, struck the trail near Kedar Kharak/Bhojkhadak and blocked the Kedartal descent, leaving eight people—seven trekkers and a local guide—unlocated.
- Rescuers recovered the group’s tents and bags near Kedar Kharak and four support staff were found safe after contacting the agency on October 30.
- A multi‑agency effort including the SDRF, NDRF, Nehru Institute of Mountaineering teams and civil aviation assets has been deployed and a 10‑member mountain rescue team was airlifted to the site on Monday to conduct ground searches.
- Operations have been repeatedly suspended because of deep snow reported at five to six feet, whiteout and ongoing avalanche risk, and officials say one of the stranded trekkers has suffered a head injury.
- Families have been informed and officials say searches will resume only when weather and slope stability allow, with rescue teams warning that Kedartal’s 4,700‑metre high‑altitude moraine and glacier terrain makes recovery and evacuation complex.