Lagatar24 Desk
Gopeshwar: Two foreign women climbers, who had been stranded at an altitude of 6,015 metres while attempting to reach the Chaukhamba III peak in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, were successfully rescued on Sunday morning. The rescue operation was conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel after the climbers had been stuck for three days.
The two mountaineers, Michelle Theresa Dvorak from the United States and Fav Jane Manners from the United Kingdom, were part of an expedition organized by the India Mountaineering Foundation. The climbers became stranded on October 3 after their logistical and technical equipment fell during their ascent of the Chaukhamba III peak, which stands at 6,995 metres.
Rescue Operation in Uttarakhand
The search and rescue mission began on Friday with two IAF helicopters dispatched to trace the stranded climbers. On Saturday, SDRF personnel with specialized mountaineering training joined the operation, contributing their expertise to assist in the challenging rescue.
The rescue operation concluded on Sunday, and both climbers were brought down safely.
Challenging Conditions
The rescue mission was particularly difficult due to the harsh weather conditions and high altitude. The mountaineers, left without crucial equipment, were stranded for three days before they were located and rescued.
Uttarakhand’s emergency operation centre in Dehradun confirmed the successful rescue, adding that such missions are always complex due to the region’s tough terrain and unpredictable conditions.