Ram Kumar Hanuman Gupta, 65, a tourist from Maharashtra, fell into a 130‑metre gorge on the Gangotri‑Gaumukh trek near Kachhidang on September 25. The incident occurred roughly 10 km from the base camp at Chirbasa, where a group of five Maharashtra trekkers had set out from Gangotri earlier that day. Gupta slipped while attempting to cross a narrow ledge near Kachhidang, plunging into the gorge that locals estimate to be 130 metres deep. He has not been found despite exhaustive searches.
An 18‑member search party, including six SDRF personnel from Gangotri, four Nepali porters, four forest department staff from Bhojwasa, two police officers and two local porters, began operations in the afternoon. Teams combed the Kachhidang valley, the nearby Chirbasa and Devgarh Khale, and the riverbank below Ram Mandir, but persistent rain and low visibility hampered progress. The search is ongoing as of late evening, with no trace of Gupta yet.
The district emergency operations centre has issued a red alert, suspending pilgrimages to Gangotri and Yamunotri at the Hina and Dobata points. Authorities have placed the smart control room on high alert and are monitoring rainfall and landslides continuously. The National Highway, BRO, PWD and PMGSY officials have been instructed to keep equipment and manpower ready for immediate road clearance.
Gupta's family remains in Gangotri, anxiously waiting while the remaining trekkers—Deepak Chhotelal, Shivsevak Motilal, Vishal Ram Kumar and Nikhil Suresh—stay in a local hotel. Local porters report that the group had been enjoying the remote vistas before the fall. The incident has raised concerns over safety in the high‑altitude trek, especially amid ongoing heavy rainfall.
The rescue operation will intensify once weather permits, with the district administration coordinating additional resources. A joint effort by forest, police and SDRF teams is expected to resume in the coming days, contingent on clear skies.