To retrieve the bodies of eight mountaineers from near Nanda Devi East peak, 14-member team of Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) started its expedition on Wednesday. On the other hand, the Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) SS Deshwal and Deputy Inspector General of its State HQ (Bareilly), APS Nimbadia conducted a reconnaissance at the mishap site.
Pithoragarh District Magistrate Vijay Kumar Jogdande said, “The ITBP team will be starting its expedition on Thursday, covering the area on foot to the mishap site from the base camp. We requested Indian Air Force choppers to drop them at Nanda Devi base camp, however heavy rainfall on Wednesday did not permit it.â€
The 14-member IMF group under Dhruv Joshi have started their expedition on Wednesday. Wing Commander Amit Chowdhary, with whom the team is in direct contact said, “It is expected to reach near the mishap site on June 19 or 20. The team consists of eight climbers and six supporting staff including two members for camp management. They will be setting two to three camps near Pindari glacier.â€
It is pertinent to mention that IMF on May 31 informed Pithoragarh district administration that eight of the 12-member team on an expedition on Nanda Devi peak have not returned to the base camp. On June 5, during reconnaissance through IAF choppers five bodies were spotted, the other three climbers were also presumably dead.
