Part of Gaumukh glacier sags, 1 killed

  • 05/06/2008

  • Tribune (New Delhi)

One person was killed and nine others, including five foreign tourists, were injured when a part of the Gaumukh glacier moved and hit these persons near Gaumukh last evening. A team of the Uttarkashi police, forest personnel and rescue workers today reached the spot and carried the injured back to Bhojwasa for treatment. According to Uttarkashi SP Nilesh Anand Bharne, part of the Gaumukh glacier fell on tourists in the area killing a sadhu and injuring four American and one British tourists. Two tourists from West Bengal were also injured. The incident took place at 6 pm yesterday and rescue operations were launched immediately. Rescue teams were send on the 14 km Gangotri-Gaumukh track to bring back the injured tourists. The injured reached Bhojwasa today and would be sent to the Uttarkashi hospital for further treatment. This year with an aim to save the Gaumukh glacier from further melting, the Uttarkhand government had restricted the number of tourists going to the glacier to a maximum of 150 per day.