Rescue Mission: Stranded Mountaineers Await Aid on Chaukhamba III

Two female mountaineers are stranded at over 6,000 meters on Chaukhamba III in Uttarakhand. Helicopter searches by the IAF have been unsuccessful, prompting calls for State Disaster Response Force assistance. The climbers, part of a foreign expedition, lost essential gear during their ascent.

In a tense situation unfolding in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, two women mountaineers have been stranded at an elevation exceeding 6,000 meters on Chaukhamba III. Attempts by IAF helicopters to locate them on Friday have not been successful, raising concerns about their safety.

Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed the identities of the climbers as Michelle Theresa Dvorak from the USA and Fav Jane Manners from the UK. The expedition, organized by the India Mountaineering Foundation, faced challenges when crucial gear was lost during their climb.

Authorities have reached out to the State Disaster Response Force for a search and rescue mission, after district officials communicated with the Department of Military Affairs seeking helicopter rescue support on Thursday evening. The mountaineers' predicament underscores the risks inherent in high-altitude expeditions.

(With inputs from agencies.)