Software engineer missing on Pindari Glacier trek, search operation intensifies

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Bageshwar, 2 Jun: A software engineer from Noida, Abhishek Chauhan, has been missing for the past five days on the Pindari Glacier trek, one of the country’s most challenging routes. Despite continuous search operations by SDRF, NDRF, police, forest officials, fire services and local villagers, no breakthrough has been achieved. Abhishek, 28, employed with L&T in Gujarat, had set out on the trek on 28 May with three friends and a local guide. On 29 May, while returning near Maliyadhod, he stopped for photography and asked the guide to wait ahead at a Maggi Point. When he failed to arrive, the guide returned to search but found no trace. Later that night, the guide informed forest ranger Dauli Dobhal at Khati village, following which the administration launched a rescue mission.
During the search, teams recovered Abhishek’s shirt and cap from river stones near the glacier, raising fears that he may have been swept away by the strong current. His camera was also found near the riverbank, but no further clues emerged. The Police officials said the freezing night temperatures and treacherous terrain increase the likelihood of an accident. The search has now been extended to Pauri, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, with local teams alerted. Drones are being used to scan deep gorges and dense forests, and the possibility of deploying helicopters is under consideration. Meanwhile, Abhishek’s family has also reached Bageshwar and is assisting the rescue teams. The operation continues under difficult weather conditions, with authorities determined to trace the missing trekker.