Dehradun, November 3, 2026: Eight trekkers remain missing in Uttarakhand’s Kedartal region, four days after they failed to return from a high-altitude expedition. Rescue teams have located a tent, bags and other belongings near the Kedarkadak area, but no trace of the missing group has yet been found.
Eight Missing From 12-Member Trekking Group
The missing people were part of a 12-member trekking party that left Gangotri for the Kedartal trek on October 27.
The group included seven trekkers, one guide, one cook and three porters. Four members — the cook and three porters — were rescued earlier, while eight remain unaccounted for.
Tent and Bags Found During Search
On the fourth day of operations, rescue personnel found a tent, bags and other belongings believed to belong to the missing group near Kedarkadak.
Uttarakhand SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi said the belongings were recovered, but rescuers did not find any of the missing trekkers nearby.
Aerial Reconnaissance Fails to Find Group
Rescue agencies also carried out aerial reconnaissance over the high-altitude area.
However, the helicopter search did not provide any new leads, with difficult terrain, snow and weather conditions continuing to hamper operations.
SDRF and NIM Continue Joint Operation
The search is being jointly conducted by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM).
Teams are continuing to move through avalanche-affected and snow-covered terrain as they try to locate the missing trekkers.
Group Had Permission for Three-Day Expedition
Authorities said the group had received permission for a three-day trek on October 26 and was expected to return by October 29.
A weather warning was issued on October 27, hours after the group had already entered the trekking route, making it difficult for officials to contact them and communicate the alert.
Missing Trekkers Include People From Bengal and Uttar Pradesh
Among the eight missing are five men from West Bengal, two women from Uttar Pradesh and a guide from Uttarkashi.
Officials and rescue teams are continuing efforts to trace them as concerns grow over prolonged exposure to harsh high-altitude conditions.
Weather and Avalanche Terrain Slow Rescue
Heavy snowfall and avalanche-hit terrain have made the search especially difficult.
Two helicopter searches had already failed to spot the group, while ground teams have had to advance cautiously through unstable and snow-covered areas.
Search Enters Critical Phase
With the operation now entering another day, rescuers are treating the search as a race against time.
The discovery of the group’s belongings has narrowed the search area, but authorities have not yet confirmed whether the trekkers moved away from the site or became trapped elsewhere along the route.
Source: The Indian Express, Times of India, Uttarakhand SDRF
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