Gangotri-Gaumukh trek: Maharashtra man, 65, falls into 130m gorge, missing
Synopsis
A 65-year-old Maharashtra tourist slipped into a 130-metre gorge on the Gangotri-Gaumukh trek on 25 September and remains untraced after two days of search operations. With a weather red alert forcing a pilgrimage suspension and rescue teams blocked by persistent rain, the clock is ticking in one of Uttarakhand's most treacherous high-altitude corridors.
Key Takeaways
Ram Kumar Hanuman Gupta , 65 , from Maharashtra fell into a 130-metre gorge near Kachhidang on the Gangotri-Gaumukh trek at approximately 2:30 pm on 25 September .
An 18-member rescue team — including SDRF , police, forest department, and porters — searched on 26 September but found no trace.
Heavy rainfall and a weather department red alert have severely hampered the operation.
The district administration has suspended the Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham pilgrimage at the Hina and Dobata holding points as a precaution.
Gupta's family is present at Gangotri ; his four co-trekkers are staying at a local hotel.
Authorities say the search will be intensified once weather conditions improve .
A 65-year-old tourist from Maharashtra went missing on 25 September 2026 after reportedly slipping into a 130-metre-deep gorge along the Gangotri-Gaumukh trekking route in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. Search and rescue operations have entered their second consecutive day, severely hampered by heavy rainfall and deteriorating weather conditions.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to the District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC), a group of five tourists from Maharashtra had departed from Gangotri toward Gaumukh on 25 September. At approximately 2:30 pm, Ram Kumar Hanuman Gupta, aged 65, reportedly lost his footing near Kachhidang, a point beyond Chirbasa, and fell into the gorge. He has remained untraced since.
The other members of the trekking group have been identified as Deepak Chhotelal, Shivsevak Motilal, Vishal Ram Kumar, and Nikhil Suresh. Gupta's family members are present at Gangotri, while the remaining trekkers are staying at a local hotel.
Search Operation: Teams and Terrain
Immediately after the incident, teams from the forest department, police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local porters were mobilised. On 26 September, an 18-member search team was deployed, comprising six SDRF personnel from Gangotri, four Nepali porters, four forest department personnel from Bhojwasa, two police personnel, and two additional porters.
The team conducted extensive searches around Kachhidang, Chirbasa, Devgarh Khale, and along the riverbank below Ram Mandir. Despite sustained efforts, no trace of the missing tourist was found till late evening. Officials confirmed the search would be intensified once weather conditions improve.
Weather Alert and Pilgrimage Suspension
Compounding the rescue challenge, the weather department has issued a red alert for the region. As a precautionary measure, the district administration has suspended the pilgrimage to Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams at the Hina and Dobata holding points.
The emergency operations centre and smart control room have been placed on high alert, with rainfall and landslide-related developments being continuously monitored. Authorities have directed officials of the National Highway, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), PWD, and PMGSY to keep machinery and manpower ready for immediate road clearance.
A Recurring Risk on High-Altitude Treks
The Gangotri-Gaumukh trail, which ascends to approximately 3,892 metres above sea level, is one of Uttarakhand's most frequented high-altitude treks. The route passes through glacial moraines and narrow cliff-side paths where footing becomes treacherous during the monsoon. This is not the first rescue operation to be complicated by seasonal rainfall on this corridor — authorities have repeatedly flagged the need for stricter trekking protocols during the July-October period when precipitation peaks.
As rescue teams await a weather window to resume operations, the fate of Ram Kumar Hanuman Gupta remains uncertain.
Point of View
Heavily-trafficked religious and adventure route where trekker safety protocols exist on paper. Yet incidents of this kind recur with troubling regularity each monsoon season, raising questions about whether real-time weather advisories are reaching group leaders before departure rather than after tragedy. A red alert was already in force when this group set out; the gap between that alert and the group's movement is the accountability question authorities have not yet answered. Stricter pre-trek clearances and mandatory check-in systems at key waypoints like Chirbasa could make the difference between a close call and a fatality.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the tourist missing on the Gangotri-Gaumukh trek?
The missing tourist is Ram Kumar Hanuman Gupta, a 65-year-old man from Maharashtra, who reportedly slipped near Kachhidang on the Gangotri-Gaumukh trekking route at around 2:30 pm on 25 September and fell into a gorge estimated to be 130 metres deep.
What is the current status of the rescue operation?
Search and rescue teams have been operating for two consecutive days without locating Gupta. An 18-member team searched areas including Kachhidang, Chirbasa, Devgarh Khale, and the riverbank below Ram Mandir on 26 September. Heavy rain and adverse weather have hampered progress, and officials say operations will be intensified once conditions improve.
Why has the Gangotri-Yamunotri pilgrimage been suspended?
The district administration suspended the pilgrimage to Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams at the Hina and Dobata holding points as a precautionary measure following a red alert issued by the weather department for the region.
Which agencies are involved in the search?
The rescue operation involves the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the forest department, the police, and local Nepali porters. The emergency operations centre and smart control room are also on alert, monitoring rainfall and landslide developments.
Is the Gangotri-Gaumukh trek prone to accidents during monsoon?
Yes, the route — which reaches approximately 3,892 metres above sea level — passes through glacial moraines and narrow cliff-side paths that become particularly hazardous during the July-to-October monsoon period. Rescue operations on this corridor have been complicated by seasonal rainfall on multiple past occasions.
