Two bodies have been recovered on the Kedartal trek in Uttarakhand, as rescue teams continue searching for six more people who went missing after an avalanche in the Indian Himalayas.
A joint team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) recovered the bodies of a man and a woman on Tuesday, 3 November, the Uttarkashi District Emergency Operation Centre said. The bodies were buried under snow near Bhoj Kharak and Kachchi Dhang, at an altitude of about 4,000 metres, and have not yet been identified.
Eight people missing after avalanche
Eight people — seven trekkers and one guide — went missing on the Kedartal route in Uttarkashi district after an avalanche struck during their return journey. The group had set out from Gangotri on 27 October and was due back by 29 October.
The missing group comprised five men from West Bengal, two women from Uttar Pradesh and a local guide, according to reports citing officials. The search is focused on the area beyond Bhoj Kharak, where the avalanche blocked the route.
Search called off for the day, to resume on Wednesday
The rescue team resumed its search at about 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, after weather conditions improved slightly, but was forced to call off the operation at about 3 p.m. because of inclement weather and blizzard conditions. The team returned to base camp, and the search is scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
Officials said an additional helipad is being prepared near the avalanche site, at an altitude of about 4,005 metres, to help search teams reach the remote area, and more SDRF personnel are expected to join the operation. The Gangotri National Park and the Uttarkashi Forest Division have stopped issuing permits for treks at altitudes of 4,000 metres or above until weather conditions improve, according to The Tribune.
Why the rescue is so difficult
Kedartal is a high glacial lake in the Gangotri area of the Garhwal Himalayas, about 17 kilometres from Gangotri. The search is being carried out at around 4,000 metres, where heavy snowfall, blizzards and difficult terrain have repeatedly slowed rescuers, and teams in places have had to be heli-dropped to the search area.
The identities of the two people whose bodies were recovered have not been released, and officials have not said where the remaining six trekkers may be. What happens next depends on the weather: if conditions allow, teams will return to the same area on Wednesday and continue the search.
What is confirmed — and what is not yet known
Confirmed: eight people missing on the Kedartal route; two bodies — one man and one woman — recovered on 3 November; six people still untraced; the search was paused on Tuesday afternoon because of weather and is due to resume on Wednesday.
Not yet known: the identities of the two people found; the exact location of the remaining six; and when the search area can be fully reached, given the continuing bad weather.
Sources
- The Hindu, “Two bodies found on trekking route in Uttarakhand; six team members untraced”, 3 November 2026: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uttarakhand/two-bodies-found-on-trekking-route-in-uttarakhand-six-team-members-untraced/article71661186.ece
- The Tribune (PTI), “Trekkers go missing in Uttarakhand: Bodies of 2 recovered”, 3 November 2026: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/trekkers-go-missing-in-uttarakhand-bodies-of-2-recovered/
- The Statesman, “Bodies two missing trekkers buried under snow retrieved from Uttarakhand’s Kedartal trek on day four”, 3 November 2026: https://www.thestatesman.com/india/bodies-two-missing-trekkers-buried-under-snow-retrieved-from-uttarakhands-kedartal-trek-on-day-four-1503658538.html/amp
- The Federal (PTI), “2 bodies found as search for Kedartal trekkers enters Day 5 amid blizzards, avalanche”, 3 November 2026: https://thefederal.com/category/states/north/uttarakhand/search-for-kedartal-trekkers-enters-day-5-as-blizzards-avalanche-block-rescue-efforts-261708
- Outlook, “Two Bodies Recovered From Uttarakhand Trek Route After Avalanche, Six Missing”, 3 November 2026: https://www.outlookindia.com/amp/story/national/two-bodies-recovered-from-uttarakhand-trek-route-after-avalanche-six-missing
FAQ
How many trekkers are still missing on the Kedartal route?
Six people are still untraced after two bodies were recovered on 3 November, from eight people originally reported missing.
Have the two people found been identified?
No. Officials said the bodies of a man and a woman were recovered, but their identities had not been released at the time of reporting.
When will the search resume?
The search was called off at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday because of bad weather and is scheduled to resume on Wednesday, with more personnel expected to join.
Where is Kedartal?
Kedartal is a high glacial lake in the Gangotri area of Uttarakhand’s Garhwal Himalayas, about 17 kilometres from Gangotri, and the search is taking place at about 4,000 metres.
