Dharamshala: After an intensive search operation in which services of air force helicopter was also taken, bodies of two trekkers, who were missing for 8 days, have been found in the Dhauladhar mountains.
Sub-divisional magistrate Ms Shilpi Bekta said that bodies of Harsimran Singh (34) and Naveen Kumar (44) were found during the search and rescue operation today. “They had gone trekking and were missing since last Monday. The search was even conducted with the help of an air force helicopter and cooperation was also taken from the police, mountaineering institute and the local police,” said Bekta.
Harsimranpreet Singh was a resident of Dharamshala and Naveen Kumar of Dari. The two are suspected to have fallen during the trek and succumbed to their injuries.
The duo had gone out on the trek on Monday (29th November) and when they did not return by Tuesday, the families lodged a missing report with the police.
District police chief Khushal Chand Sharma said, “both the trekkers had left towards Thatharna on November 29, a small hill overlooking Dharamshala town, and camped there for a night,” Some locals had come across the trekkers and were informed that they planned to cross the 4450 meter high Kundli Pass, he said.
The last contact with them was a call they made to a friend asking about the trekking route towards Chamba. “We launched a search and rescue operation to trace them. A foot search team from Dharamshala was sent towards the Kundli Pass while another team was on its way from the Chamba side. Local trekkers also helped the authorities in this operation,” said the police officer.
Lest trekkers venture into dangerous territory, district magistrate Dr Nipun Jindal had banned high altitude trekking (over 3000 meters) in the district in September 2021 are evoking Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Arvind Sharma is an award winning bi-lingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience.
He has worked with Divya Himachal, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhasker, Vir Partap, Ajit and PTI.
In 2010, he was conferred the Himachal Kesri journalism award. He reports on the Tibetan Government in Exile, politics, sports, tourism and other topics. He lives in Dharamshala.
