Uttarakhand: 4 bodies retrieved after avalanche hits Indian Navy climbing group

The dead bodies of the four Indian Navy Officers out of the ten-member team, who were part of a mountaineering expedition, were recovered on Saturday from the site of an avalanche at Mt Trishul in the western Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. Whereas, two people including a potter are said to be missing.

Chamoli (Uttarakhand):The dead bodies of the four Indian Navy Officers out of the ten-member team, who were part of a mountaineering expedition, were recovered on Saturday from the site of an avalanche at Mt Trishul in the western Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. Whereas, two people including a potter are said to be missing.

Earlier on Friday, a rescue team had spotted some bodies buried in the snow near Trishul mountain following which the rescue team reached Joshimath by helicopter with the bodies of four climbers. The bodies have been kept in a Community Health Centre for post-mortem.

The deceased officers have been identified as Lt Commander Rajnikant Yadav, Lt Commander Yogesh Tiwari, Lt Commander Anant Kukreti and Hariom MCPO II, according to the Twitter handle of the Indian Navy.

The 20-member expedition was flagged off at Mumbai on September 3 and 10 climbers had started the final leg of their journey to the summit of Mt Trishul (7,120 m) on Friday morning but were caught in the avalanche.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed grief over the incident.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, He said, "Deeply anguished by the tragic death of four Navy personnel who were part of the Indian Navy mountaineering expedition to Mt. Trishul. The nation has not only lost precious young lives but also courageous soldiers in this tragedy."

READ:5 Indian navy mountaineers missing after avalanche hits climbing group