A total of 21 trekkers and porters were safely evacuated on Tuesday from the Kalindi Pass, Jogin-I Peak and Satopanth Peak base areas amid snowfall and adverse weather in the higher reaches of Uttarkashi district, according to the district administration. The evacuations were carried out by helicopter.

The operation follows a larger airlift a day earlier and shows how quickly conditions in the high Himalaya can turn hazardous for trekking groups. Eight trekkers and porters from the Kalindi Pass area were airlifted to the Harsil helipad. Another eight were airlifted from the Jogin-I Peak area. A helicopter also brought five trekkers and porters from the Satopanth Peak base camp to Harsil. That accounts for the total of 21 given by the administration. 

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Rescue operations at Kalindi Pass and Jogin-I Peak have been completed, the administration said. Operations are still under way at the Satopanth Peak base camp.  Helicopter evacuations at altitude depend heavily on visibility and wind, so a break in the weather is often the deciding factor.

On Monday, officials said, helicopters evacuated a total of 40 stranded trekkers, including 29 from the Auden's Col Pass base camp. Taken together, the figures suggest that at least 61 people have been evacuated over the two days. 

Further updates are likely from the district administration on progress at Satopanth Peak and on whether any other groups remain stranded. Trekkers planning to travel in the region may wish to follow official advisories, as snowfall and adverse weather continue to affect the high-altitude areas. 

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