The 22-member trekking team, organized by Himalayan View Trekking Agency, embarked on a 35-km trek from Uttarkashi on May 29. The group included 18 trekkers from Karnataka, one from Maharashtra, and three local guides.

Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, currently in Dehradun, met with Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi and Secretary of Disaster Management Ranjit Sinha, expressing gratitude for their swift response. Gowda's office released a statement indicating that arrangements are being made to transport the bodies to Bengaluru. "All nine bodies will likely reach Dehradun around noon. After embalming in a local hospital, we are planning to airlift all the bodies to Bengaluru today itself," said Gowda.

Eight trekkers, including women, were rescued and shifted to Dehradun on Wednesday. Five more rescued trekkers will be airlifted from Uttarkashi to Dehradun today. Gowda detailed the rescue operations, stating that five bodies were airlifted to Uttarkashi on Wednesday, and four more bodies were recovered and airlifted early Thursday morning. The post-mortem procedures are currently underway at a hospital in Uttarkashi before the bodies are transported to Dehradun for embalming.

Upon learning of the incident, Gowda flew to Dehradun to oversee the rescue operations. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed officials to ensure the safe rescue of trekkers and the immediate repatriation of the deceased.

The trekkers began their expedition on Tuesday morning in the high-altitude region of Shastratal Mayali. While returning to camp, the group encountered severe weather conditions, including a blizzard, which stranded them. Emergency rescue operations commenced on Tuesday evening, with the assistance of locally available helicopters and an Indian Air Force helicopter arriving in Uttarkashi on Wednesday morning.

A statement from the Chief Minister's Office on Wednesday evening confirmed that the bodies of the deceased trekkers would be handed over to their families, and the rescued trekkers would be safely brought back to Karnataka. "All those rescued should be safely brought home without any disturbance. Instructions have been given to Minister Krishna Byre Gowda that all the necessary procedures should be carried out immediately in order to hand over the bodies to the families," the Chief Minister stated. (ILKHA)