Israeli trekker goes missing near Hamta Pass, traced

Kullu, JUNE 13

A trekker from Israel, who went missing yesterday during the Hamta Pass trek, was today traced by a team on helicopter sent by the Israel Embassy. He was rescued four km away from Chattru towards Hamta Pass by the joint team of police, revenue and rescue team of Manali.

The recent casualties

• Akhil Chadha of Delhi had disappeared while undertaking the Hamta Pass trek on April 10, 2018. His body was recovered on April 17.
• The body of a missing trekker Aman Awasthi (23) from Delhi was found after about one month in the Malana area on April 20, 2018.
• The body of a trekker from Maharashtra was found in Ming Thach area of Parbati valley on October 3, 2018.
• Body of Manoj Rathinam from Tamil Nadu was found on the trekking route beyond Kheer Ganga in Parbati valley on April 6, 2018.

Those who were traced

• Three tourists who had gone for trekking in Hamta area near Manali were rescued safely by the police in the wee hours on January 27, 2021.
• Ayasha from Delhi and Kalol Mukherji of West Bengal were rescued after two days by the police from Chanderkhani jungle near Malana village in Parbati valley on June 4, 2019.
• A group of seven students from Sangrur district of Punjab, who had lost their way during a trekking expedition to Chanderkhani peak, were rescued after three days with the help of a helicopter on March 13, 2016.

US national remained untraced

Justin Alexander Shetler (35) from the USA had gone missing while trekking in the Parbati valley on August 22, 2016 and he was not traced despite extensive search operations.

Kullu SP Gurdev Sharma said that Yuvan Cohan (24) and Ron Yaron (26) had ventured to the Hamta Pass trek from Manali towards Koksar on June 9. He said that Yuvan reached Koksar yesterday but Ron went missing. After an information was received, a police team along with locals was dispatched to the location for tracing and rescuing the missing trekker. Information was also given to Manali SDM, who also deployed a rescue team.

Lahaul and Spiti SP Manav Verma said that information about the missing trekker was received yesterday night and a police team along with locals was sent to Chhatru this morning to trace the stranded trekker. He said the trekker had returned to his base camp last night and was found in a healthy condition. The trekker was brought to Koksar where he was handed over to the Manali rescue team.

Many trekkers have lost their lives in various hazardous trekking routes in the Kullu district. Despite repeated warnings and advisories issued by the district administration to regulate trekking in various areas in Kullu, many enthusiasts risk their lives by leaving for trekking without proper equipment or without any trained guides. Sometimes the revellers set out for trekking in adverse weather conditions risking their lives.