48 trekkers evacuated from Uttarkashi amid heavy rainfall, landslides
Synopsis
Forty-eight trekkers stranded at two of Uttarakhand's most demanding high-altitude routes — Kalindi Pass and Auden's Col — were airlifted to safety over two days as relentless monsoon rains triggered landslides and cut road access. The coordinated helicopter operation, overseen by local authorities and reviewed by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, was completed with all evacuees declared medically fit.
Key Takeaways
48 trekkers and porters were evacuated from Kalindi Pass Base and Auden's Col Base in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand , by 29 September 2026 .
19 trekkers and porters were rescued from the Kalindi Pass route — 8 on Tuesday and 11 on Monday — and airlifted to the Harsil helipad .
All 29 trekkers in the Auden's Col area were evacuated separately by helicopter on Monday, 28 September .
All rescued individuals underwent medical examinations and were found to be in good health .
Continuous rainfall since Friday, 26 September triggered landslides and disrupted road connectivity across Uttarakhand .
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the Disaster Control Room on Monday to review rescue operations; the Char Dham Yatra resumed on Monday after weather improved.
Forty-eight trekkers and expedition members stranded at the high-altitude Kalindi Pass Base and Auden's Col Base in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, have been safely evacuated, officials confirmed on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. The coordinated helicopter rescue operation, conducted amid relentless rainfall and active landslides, brought all stranded personnel to safety.
How the Rescue Unfolded
On Tuesday morning, eight trekkers and porters stranded along the Kalindi trek route were airlifted by helicopter and brought safely to the Harsil helipad, completing the rescue operation for that sector. A day earlier, on Monday, 28 September, 11 more trekkers and porters from the same Kalindi Pass area had also been evacuated by helicopter. In total, 19 trekkers and porters stranded on the Kalindi route were brought to safety across the two-day operation.
In a separate but simultaneous effort, all 29 trekkers stranded in the Auden's Col area were successfully evacuated by helicopter on Monday. Their safe recovery accounted for the remaining count, bringing the cumulative total to 48 evacuees.
Medical Status and Coordination at Harsil
All rescued individuals underwent medical examinations upon arrival at the Harsil helipad and were found to be in good health. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Uttarkashi, confirmed that operations at the helipad were conducted in a structured and co-ordinated manner under the supervision of Additional District Magistrate Mukta Mishra.
'At the Harshil helipad, in the presence of Additional District Magistrate Mukta Mishra, all personnel involved in the rescue operation, including the helicopter pilot, coordinated and planned thoroughly, and the rescue operation was launched in an organised and safe manner. All teams are working in coordination and according to the established plan,' the DDMA said in a statement.
Weather-Driven Disruption Across Uttarakhand
The rescue operations were conducted against a backdrop of severe weather across the state. Continuous rainfall since Friday, 26 September, had disrupted road connectivity at multiple locations, triggered landslides, and hampered the movement of both rescue teams and civilians. Travel and pilgrimage activities in several parts of Uttarakhand were also adversely affected.
Notably, the Char Dham Yatra — one of India's most prominent pilgrimage circuits — had been suspended due to the inclement weather but resumed on Monday after conditions improved, offering some relief to thousands of devotees.
Chief Minister Reviews Rescue Operations
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the Disaster Control Room on Monday to review the ongoing rescue operations and took stock of the steps being taken by the administration and field teams. His intervention underscored the scale of the emergency response mobilised across the state.
What This Signals for High-Altitude Trekking Safety
The Kalindi Pass and Auden's Col are among the most technically demanding trekking routes in the Garhwal Himalayas, often attempted by experienced mountaineers. This is not the first time monsoon volatility has caught trekkers off-guard at these altitudes — rescue operations in Uttarkashi during the September window have recurred in recent years, raising questions about early-warning protocols and seasonal advisories for high-altitude routes. As climate patterns grow more erratic, authorities and trekking organisations face mounting pressure to implement stricter pre-departure checks and real-time weather monitoring for expeditions above 4,000 metres.
Point of View
But it also exposes a recurring vulnerability: Kalindi Pass and Auden's Col regularly trap expeditions during monsoon surges, and this pattern should by now have translated into mandatory pre-departure weather-clearance protocols — not just reactive airlifts. The fact that 48 people required helicopter evacuation simultaneously suggests either inadequate real-time weather advisories or insufficient enforcement of seasonal restrictions on these technically demanding routes. As Himalayan weather becomes increasingly unpredictable, Uttarakhand's disaster management framework must move from reactive rescue excellence to proactive risk prevention, particularly as trekking tourism scales up across the Garhwal belt.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trekkers were rescued in the Uttarkashi operation?
A total of 48 trekkers and porters were rescued from the Kalindi Pass Base and Auden's Col Base in Uttarkashi district. Of these, 19 were evacuated from the Kalindi route and 29 from the Auden's Col area, all by helicopter.
Where were the stranded trekkers taken after rescue?
All rescued trekkers were airlifted to the Harsil helipad in Uttarkashi. Upon arrival, they underwent medical examinations and were confirmed to be in good health.
What caused trekkers to become stranded in Uttarkashi?
Continuous and heavy rainfall across Uttarakhand since Friday, 26 September, triggered landslides and disrupted road connectivity, leaving trekkers stranded at high-altitude bases on the Kalindi Pass and Auden's Col routes.
Was the Char Dham Yatra affected by the rains?
Yes, the Char Dham Yatra was disrupted due to adverse weather conditions, with travel and pilgrimage activities affected in several parts of the state. The Yatra resumed on Monday, 28 September, after weather conditions improved.
Who oversaw the rescue operation in Uttarkashi?
The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Uttarkashi, coordinated the operation at the Harsil helipad under the supervision of Additional District Magistrate Mukta Mishra. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also visited the Disaster Control Room on Monday to review rescue efforts.
