Two trekkers of Dharamsala found dead in Dhauladhar hills: Police

Dharamsala, December 6, 2021: Giving information here today, Sub-Divisional Officer civil SDM Dharamsala  MS  Shilpi Vekta said that the bodies of Harsimranpreet Singh son Paramjit Singh resident of Gurdwara Road Dharamsala and Naveen Kumar son Hari Singh PO Dari were found during the search and rescue operation today. "They went trekking and were  missing  since Monday last. In this search and rescue operation special help was taken from the Air Force helicopter too. Apart from this, there was also the cooperation of the police, mountaineering institute and the local public," said Bekta.
Police have informed that the bodies of two youths of Dharamsala, who went for the trekking in Dhauladhar Snow range, were found under a hill on the eighth day of their disappearance. Prima facie, it is suspected that the youths died due to falling from the hill. Still, the police are investigating keeping other aspects in mind. Both the bodies have been taken into custody and are  being brought back  to Dharamsala.  After the post mortem on Tuesday the bodies  will be handed over to the relatives, said police.
It is noteworthy that Naveen Kumar (44) and Harsimran (34) left home for trekking last Monday. When they did not return home till Tuesday, their family members informed the police about his missing and police immediately started the search operation.
Superintendent of police (SP) Khushal Chand Sharma said ,“both the trekkers  had left towards Thatharna on November 29, a small hill overlooking Dharamshala town, and camped there for a night,” said Sharma.
He said some locals who had met the hikers informed that they were planning to cross the 4,450-metre Kundli Pass.
The families lodged a missing complaint after they didn’t return. They had made the last call to a friend asking him the trekking  directions towards Chamba.”
“We  launched a search and rescue operation to trace them. A foot search team from Dharamsala has been sent towards the Kundli Pass while another team is on its way from the Chamba side. Local trekkers also helped the authorities in this operation,” said the SP.
It is noteworthy that in September 2021, District Magistrate of Kangra Dr. Nipun Jindal under Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 has banned the trekking in all mountain passes that are above three thousand meters, till further orders.