Two foreign women mountaineers, stranded at an altitude of over 6,000 metres for three days during their expedition to Chaukhamba-3 peak, were successfully rescued by the Indian Air Force (IAF) teams using helicopters on Sunday. The mountaineers had been stranded after their equipment and bags slipped into a gorge.
Details of the Mountaineers
The mountaineers were identified as:
- Michelle Theresa Dvorak from the United States.
- Fay Jane Manners from the United Kingdom.
They were approximately 995 km away from the Chaukhamba-3 peak when they got stranded. The climbers were part of a foreign mountaineering expedition organized by the India Mountaineering Foundation (IMF).
Chaukhamba Peak Overview
Chaukhamba peak, located in the Garhwal Himalayas, is a large mountain shaped like four pillars. It consists of four peaks that are aligned along a ridge running from northeast to southwest:
- Chaukhamba 1: 7,138 meters (highest peak, on the Gangotri Glacier).
- Other peaks: 7,088 meters, 6,995 meters, and 6,854 meters, respectively.
Search and Rescue Operation
- Initial Rescue Efforts
On Friday, two IAF helicopters were deployed to locate the stranded climbers. Despite a full-day operation, the helicopters returned empty-handed. The search began after Chamoli district magistrate received a request from IMF for assistance. The mountaineers had sent a pager to their liaison officer on Thursday, but communication was lost thereafter. - Ground Search by SDRF
An expert mountaineering team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was deployed to the Advanced Base Camp at 4,900 metres to conduct a ground search. Four SDRF personnel were dropped by helicopter to start the search. - Rescue by IAF
On Sunday, the IAF rescue team, using helicopters, located the stranded climbers and airlifted them to Joshimath. Both climbers were found safe and in good health. Meanwhile, the four-member SDRF team was also brought back to Joshimath.
Past Incidents in the Region
Mountaineering and trekking in the Garhwal region have resulted in numerous fatalities due to extreme weather conditions. Some notable incidents include:
- June 2023: Nine members of a 22-member trekking team were killed in a blizzard on the Sahastra Tal trek in Uttarkashi district.
- October 2022: A mountaineer’s body was recovered a year after an avalanche at the Dokrani Bamak glacier.
- May 2022: Seven trekkers were rescued by an IAF chopper from Pandav Shera trek in Rudraprayag district.
- June 2019: Eight mountaineers heading towards Nanda Devi East summit were killed in an avalanche.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What altitude were the two foreign mountaineers stranded at during their expedition to Chaukhamba-3 peak?
a) 5,000 metres
b) 6,000 metres
c) 7,000 metres
d) 4,500 metres
Answer: b) 6,000 metres - Which countries were the two rescued mountaineers from?
a) United States and United Kingdom
b) Canada and Australia
c) France and Germany
d) New Zealand and Ireland
Answer: a) United States and United Kingdom - Which organization was responsible for the mountaineering expedition?
a) Indian Mountaineering Foundation
b) Nehru Institute of Mountaineering
c) International Mountaineering Association
d) Himalayan Mountaineers Guild
Answer: a) Indian Mountaineering Foundation - How many peaks does the Chaukhamba mountain have?
a) Two
b) Three
c) Four
d) Five
Answer: c) Four - What was the highest peak of Chaukhamba located on?
a) Nanda Devi Glacier
b) Gangotri Glacier
c) Kedarnath Glacier
d) Dokrani Glacier
Answer: b) Gangotri Glacier - Which organization conducted a ground search at the Advanced Base Camp?
a) Nehru Institute of Mountaineering
b) Indian Air Force
c) State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
d) Indian Army
Answer: c) State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) - In which year did an avalanche kill 27 people near Dokrani Bamak glacier?
a) 2023
b) 2021
c) 2022
d) 2020
Answer: c) 2022