Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Oct 7: The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) released a statement on Friday stating that the death toll from the Uttarkakhand avalanche now stands at 26, following the recovery of seven additional bodies.
On Thursday, fifteen dead were discovered as a rescue effort in Uttarkashi went on days after an avalanche killed 41 members of a NIM team of mountaineering instructors and trainees. Three expedition members were still unaccounted for.
So far, twelve people have been saved. On Tuesday, four bodies were discovered, including that of renowned mountaineer Savita Kanswal who earlier this year broke a national record by ascending Mount Everest and Mount Makalu in 16 days.
The search and rescue operation was in progress at the disaster site.
“The search for remaining missing trainee mountaineers and instructors was underway. Bad weather prevails at Draupadi Ka Danda peak,” said district disaster management officer Devendra Patwal.
Notably, the 41-member group was hit near the Dokrani Bamak glacier when it was returning from high-altitude navigation from Mount Draupadi ka Danda-2 peak (5,670 m) on Tuesday.