Satopanth Tragedy. Indians hoped to climb Satopanth from the north. Dr. Minoo Mehta, Nandu Paghe and a high-altitude porter were buried in an avalanche on May 21 when they were resting in their tents at Camp II at 6000 meters. Leader Bharat Manghre and another porter, Nar Bahadur, who were pitching another tent, had a miraculous escape, but they were storm-bound there for five days. During the descent from that camp, Manghre expired and only Nar Bahadur reached Gangotri on May 29. A rescue party from the Nehru Mountaineering Institute and helicopters were pressed into service, but the bodies could not be found.

Kamal K. Guha, Editor, Himavanta, India