November 21, 2022 – A climber from Shimla has gone missing after being hit by an avalanche at Friendship Peak adjacent to Atal Tunnel Rohtang. Mountaineer Ashutosh’s son Surendra Himta resident of village Adsala, sub-tehsil Deha (Chaupal), and two other companions, informed the Manali police station about this. However, it is being told that Ashutosh went trekking without informing the family.
Ashutosh went missing while climbing toward the peak at an altitude of 17,490 feet above sea level. The rescue team of Adventure Tour Operators Association, led by station in-charge Mukesh Rathore, has left in search of him. Ashutosh’s companions Sachin of Shimla and Sahil of Manali told the police station that we had set out to conquer Friendship Peak on November 17.
Ashutosh and Sahil were climbing on Saturday when an avalanche occurred at Friendship Peak at 9:00 am, where Ashutosh went missing. Sachin and Sahil said that they kept searching for Ashutosh till the afternoon. When no trace of him was found, they reached Manali police station at 8:00 pm on Saturday to inform them about the incident. SDM Dr. Surendra Thakur Manali was also informed about this.
It is feared that Ashutosh has come under the grip of an avalanche. SDM immediately sent the Adventure Tour Operators Association rescue team under the leadership of station in-charge Mukesh Rathore in search of him. The SDM said that the avalanche site is risky. Ashutosh is yet to be traced. I will interact with the rescue team of the Mountaineering Institute, including members of the association, on Monday. He said air service would also be taken for rescue if needed.