A search and rescue operation is underway in the Pindari Glacier trekking region of Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar district after a trekker from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, went missing during his return journey. The missing trekker has been identified as Vishesh Chauhan, who lost contact with his group on the night of May 29 while descending from the trail.

According to officials, the Kapkot police station alerted the local SDRF post after Chauhan failed to reach the designated base within the expected time. He had undertaken the trek accompanied by a local porter but became separated during the return journey, prompting immediate concern and a request for rescue assistance.

Following the alert, a team from the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), led by Head Constable Teeka Singh Karki, along with local police personnel, was deployed to the site. The joint team initiated a coordinated search-and-rescue operation across the steep and rugged Himalayan terrain. During the operation, rescuers used rope-based techniques to descend approximately 60 to 70 metres at a suspected location identified with the help of local guides.

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While the trekker remains untraced, search teams recovered a camera believed to belong to him. The operation was later expanded to the banks of the Pinder River and surrounding forest areas but was temporarily halted due to heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions before resuming when conditions improved.

The Pindari Glacier trek is considered one of the more accessible high-altitude routes in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region, passing through the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve and offering views of peaks such as Nanda Khat and Changuch. Classified as a moderate-difficulty trek, it remains popular among adventure enthusiasts, though unpredictable weather and challenging terrain often complicate rescue efforts. As of the latest update, Vishesh Chauhan remains missing, and search operations continue across multiple stretches of the route.

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