Man Survives 330-Foot Gorge Fall, Rescued After All-Night Mission with 20km Trek
Bageshwar (The Uttam Hindu): A 24-year-old man, Vijay Danu, miraculously survived a 330-foot fall into a gorge near Uttarakhand's Pindari glacier. His rescue was a testament to extraordinary courage and determination, as a 13-member team embarked on an all-night mission under harsh conditions to save him. Despite suffering severe injuries and hypothermia, Danu was successfully transported for advanced medical care. The incident occurred on Friday near Jwarpani, about 7 km from Pindari glacier.
Danu, a resident of Khati village was supervising laborers repairing a trekking route when he slipped and plunged into the gorge around 7 p.m. The laborers immediately informed authorities, prompting the Kapkot police to initiate an urgent rescue operation. The rescue team, comprising members of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, fire department and medical personnel, first traveled to Khati village by vehicle. From there, they undertook a grueling 20 km trek through icy and treacherous terrain to reach the accident site, located at an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet. The most challenging part of the mission was the 330-foot descent into complete darkness to reach Danu. "We knew the risks, but someone's life depended on us," said Rajender Rawat, one of the rescuers. Braving freezing winds, the team located Danu at the bottom of the gorge after he had been stranded for approximately six hours. He was found alive but critically injured, with severe head and leg trauma and hypothermia setting in.
The rescue operation was far from over. After stabilizing Danu, the team secured him on a stretcher and began the arduous journey back to Khati village on foot. "Every step was a battle," said Dr. Manish Gururani, who provided medical care during the trek. "The cold, exhaustion and difficult terrain tested us but our determination to save him kept us going."
By dawn, the team reached Khati village, where Danu received initial medical treatment before being transported to Kapkot's Community Health Centre (CHC). Despite suffering from severe head injuries and partial paralysis, he survived. "His survival is nothing short of a miracle," said Dr. Brijesh Kishore Ghatiyal, the hospital in-charge. Danu has since been referred to a higher medical facility for further treatment. For Danu's family, the rescue was a profound moment of relief and gratitude. Fighting back tears, his brother Kailash said, "We thought we had lost him. What the police, villagers and medical team have done is beyond words. They brought our brother back to us." District disaster management officer Shikha Suyal lauded the team’s heroic efforts. "The rescue was carried out through the night in extreme cold and challenging terrain. Despite these obstacles, the team’s dedication ensured the young man's survival," she said.
