Shillong: Family members of a 35-year-old mountaineer from Meghalaya, Tiklu Jyrwa, who went missing along with other mountaineers in the avalanche that struck on Tuesday while trekking in the Dokriani Bamak glacier at Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, are still hopeful for his safe return.
Jyrwa, a member of Meghalaya Sport Climbing and Mountaineering Association (MeSCMA), was listed as one of the 34 trainee mountaineers and seven instructors from Uttarkashi-based Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) hit by the massive avalanche at an altitude of around 17,000 feet after summiting the Mount Draupadi Ka Danda II.
“There is no news as yet till now on the whereabouts of Jyrwa. We are praying for the safe return of Jyrwa and his fellow mountaineers. Only prayers for safe return for everyone with God’s miracles,” MeSCMA General Secretary, Wallambok Lyngdoh told UNI over the phone.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the state government is in touch with Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force.
“Hoping & Praying for the safety of Mr. Tiklu Jyrwa a member of Meghalaya Sport Climbing & Mountaineering Association (MeSCMA), who along with a team of 41 mountaineers was hit by an avalanche at Uttarakhand. Rescue operations are on & we are in touch with SDRF Uttarakhand,” Sangma tweeted.
A NIM official said that the trainee mountaineers ans instructors got stuck in crevasses following the avalanche.
So far ten bodies were spotted, of which four have been recovered and efforts are on to rescue the missing team, the official said.
Jyrwa was one of three mountaineers from Meghalaya who had been selected earlier this year to attend a basic mountaineering course at the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (NIMAS) in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh.
