Stormy weather hamper search op to trace missing youths

Operation to search and rescue two youths, feared buried alive under a glacier at Sundarsi on their way to the Manimahesh shrine five days ago in the district, has been hampered as the area is witnessing heavy snowfall for last three days, officials said.
Deputy Commissioner Chamba, Sudesh Mokhta said search operation would resume after snowstorm subsides in Manimahesh mountain ranges.
An army search team, led by Captain Dinesh Kumar, in coordination with police and local rescue teams assisted by Naib Tehsildar of Bharmaur, has been camping at Bharmour.
A group of five persons were on their way to the famous Manimahesh shrine to celebrate the holy festival of Mahashivaratri at the Manimahesh lake yesterday when the tragedy struck.

While three members of the group succeeded in saving themselves and returned to Bharmaur and informed the police and local administration about the mishap.
Two youths, identified as Vikas Gupta and Vivek Beri of Dalhousie, had gone missing following the heavy snowfallnear Sundarasi, few kilometres away from Dhanchho.
An eight-member team of experts from the Mountaineering Institute Gulmarg (Jammu and Kashmir) had arrived at Dhanchho for search operation, but had to return to Bharmaur tribal township due to snowfall.
SDM Bharmaur Jitender Kanwar also said search operation would resume as soon as weather conditions improves.