Four tourists survive sub-zero ordeal after getting lost in Ladakh

Four tourists from Uttar Pradesh who went missing during a trip to Pangong Lake were rescued safely in Ladakh after police traced them to a hut in sub-zero conditions following a vehicle mishap on a snow-closed route.

Leh: Four tourists from Uttar Pradesh who had gone missing during a trip to Pangong Lake have been safely rescued in Ladakh, police officials said.

The tourists – Yash Mittal, Shivam Chaudhary, Jaiveer Chaudhary and Shadanshu Faujdar from Agra – were on a trip to Ladakh and were reported missing by their families after they lost contact with them a few days back, the officials said on Tuesday.

---

Police acted swiftly and launched a coordinated search operation, leading to the safe rescue of the tourists, who had lost their way and were trapped in a hut in sub-zero temperatures, the officials said.

They said the tourists had gone to Pangong Lake in their private vehicle on January 9 and mistakenly followed the Leh-Manali road, which is presently closed due to snowfall, while returning to Leh.

Police parties were fanned out based on the last location of the tourists towards Sarchu and located their vehicle, which had met with a minor accident on the roadside, the officials said, adding the search was extended to adjoining areas, including Debring and Whisky Nalla.

They were found in a hut, some 20 km from their abandoned vehicle, the officials said. The stranded tourists spent two nights inside the vehicle using its heating system before the fuel ran out, the officials said.

They said all four tourists were found in stable condition and were provided with the necessary aid, including food and water. They will be handed over to their families on reaching Leh on Wednesday, the officials said.