Two foreign mountaineers, Miss Michelle Theresa from the USA and Miss Favgane Manners from the UK, were rescued after being stranded at 6,015 meters while attempting to scale Chaukhamba III peak in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. The climbers became stuck after a rockfall caused their gear to fall into a valley during their ascent. The Indian Air Force and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched a joint operation to save them, successfully locating the climbers late Saturday but were unable to evacuate them until Sunday morning due to logistical challenges.
The rescue operation was coordinated by SDRF teams, which began a ground search on Saturday, focusing on the most difficult sections of the trek. Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed contact with the mountaineers was made Saturday night, but helicopter services were not available until the following morning. The climbers were safely brought to Joshimath on Sunday morning. SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi praised the team’s expertise in high-altitude rescue missions, with 11 experts deployed for the operation from an advance base camp located at 4,900 meters.
Officials, including the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, expressed relief over the successful mission. They credited the quick response of the Indian Air Force and SDRF for the safe evacuation. Despite harsh conditions, including a lack of oxygen at such high altitudes, the teams ensured the climbers’ safety, and both were reported to be in good health after the rescue.
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