Bankura Trekkers Missing: Suvendu Adhikari Concerned Over Uttarakhand Tragedy
West Bengal's Suvendu Adhikari expresses concern as five trekkers from Bankura go missing during a Kedartal trek amidst heavy snowfall in Uttarakhand.
A wave of anxiety has gripped the district of Bankura in West Bengal as five local youths have gone missing during a high-altitude expedition in Uttarakhand. The group disappeared during the Kedartal trek, where severe weather conditions and relentless heavy snowfall have turned a scenic adventure into a desperate search for survival.
State Government on High Alert
Expressing deep concern over the situation, Suvendu Adhikari took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the plight of the missing trekkers. He identified the five individuals from Bankura as Rintu Mondal, Uday Ghosh, Ratan Ghosh, Tapas Bauri, and Manoj Khawas.
Adhikari assured the public and the affected families that the West Bengal government is not idling. He stated that the state administration is maintaining constant communication with the Uttarakhand government and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to monitor the progress of the rescue mission.
To ensure a streamlined flow of information, the West Bengal government is utilizing its Resident Commissioner's Office in New Delhi along with state disaster management channels to receive regular updates on the ground operations.
Support for Distressed Families
Beyond the official coordination, the state administration has reached out to the families of the missing youths in Bankura. Adhikari emphasized that the government is providing all necessary logistical and emotional support to the families during this harrowing period.
"We stand firmly with the families, and no effort is being spared to ensure the safe and swift return of our Youths. We pray for their safety and well-being," Adhikari wrote.
The Struggle Against Nature: SDRF Operations
The search operation is not limited to the five individuals from West Bengal. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has launched an intensive mission to locate a total of seven trekkers and one guide who vanished in the Kedartal region of the Uttarkashi district.
Ground and Aerial Challenges
Under the direction of SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi, a specialized mountaineering team has been deployed. However, nature has posed a formidable challenge to the rescuers:
- Ground Obstacles: The SDRF Gangotri team initially attempted to reach the Kedartal region for reconnaissance, but extreme weather and heavy snowfall made it nearly impossible to advance on foot.
- Aerial Reconnaissance: Due to the ground-level deadlock, authorities shifted to aerial searches. Head Constable Ravi Chauhan and Constable Deepak Pant were deployed to Harsil via helicopter.
Despite conducting two intensive aerial reconnaissance sorties over the Kedartal region, the results have been disheartening. Authorities reported that no clear visual signs of the missing trekkers or their tents were spotted during the helicopter surveys.