Solan: Baljeet Kaur, a record-holding Indian woman mountaineer who was reported as dead by a Himachal Pradesh Minister was found alive by the aerial survey teams, PTI reported quoting a local media outlet. The 27-year-old leading Indian woman climber was found alive on Tuesday, a day after she went missing near Camp IV of Mt. Annapurna while descending from the summit point, an official of the expedition organiser said.
An aerial search team located Kaur, who scaled the world's 10th highest peak without using supplemental oxygen on Monday, above Camp IV, Chairman at Pioneer Adventure Pasang Sherpa, was quoted as saying by the Himalayan Times newspaper.
"We are preparing to conduct a long-line rescue to airlift her from above the high camp," he said. Kaur has been seen descending alone towards Camp IV by the aerial search team, according to Sherpa. The leading Indian woman climber, who was left alone below the summit point, remained out of radio contact till this morning, the report added.
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An aerial search mission was initiated on Tuesday morning only after she managed to send a radio signal asking for 'immediate help'. According to Sherpa, her GPS location has indicated an altitude of 7,375m (24,193ft). She climbed Mt Annapurna along with two Sherpa guides at around 5.15 pm on Monday. At least three helicopters were mobilised to trace her.
Meanwhile, Anurag Maloo went missing after he fell down into a crevasse at 6,000m. Kaur is a resident of the Mamligh area of the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh and is known to have conquered several peaks including the highest Mount Everest.
Himachal Pradesh's Health Minister Col. Dr Dhani Ram Shandil, in a mistaken tweet, mourned for her. Dhani Ram Shandil attached a photograph of Baljeet Kaur and said, "I am speechless. Very sad to hear about the tragic death of mountaineer Baljeet Kaur who belonged to my constituency. Kaur had made not only her state but the entire country proud. I pray that her family gets the strength to bear this loss."
Anurag Maloo, a resident of Kishangadh in Rajasthan, who accompanied Baljeet Kaur on this expedition went missing while descending from Camp III of Mt. Annapurna. Mt. Annapurna is the tenth-highest mountain in the world, standing at 8,091 metres above sea level and it is known for the difficulty and danger involved in its ascent.
