Dharamsala, June 16: After nine days of relentless search efforts, a 30-year-old Israeli tourist, Samuel Vengrinovich, who went missing during a trek near Triund in Kangra district, was rescued alive from a snowline area on Sunday afternoon. He was injured and severely dehydrated, but conscious, according to officials.
Samuel had gone missing on June 6 during a trek towards Indrahar Pass with friends. Around 12:37 pm, he reportedly lost his way amid sudden weather changes and slipped down a steep slope, vanishing into the forested snowline region above Triund.
His girlfriend, Ediblam, who was also part of the trekking group and staying in the Dharamkot area, filed a missing person report with the McLeodganj police, triggering a large-scale rescue operation led by the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and volunteers from the Adventure Tour Operators Association (ATOA).
On Sunday, even a special rescue helicopter team was launched from Kangra airport, although it couldn’t locate him from the air due to the rugged terrain. Despite that, the airport played a vital role as a base for the rescue teams, said Kangra Airport Director Dhirendra Singh on X (formerly Twitter).
Finally, a ground team located him in a remote and snow-laden area, and successfully brought him down to safety. Kangra SP Shalini Agnihotri confirmed that he had sustained some injuries, and appeared physically weak due to prolonged hunger, dehydration, and exhaustion.
After being evacuated, Samuel was taken to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Tanda, where doctors are closely monitoring his condition. SP Agnihotri said his survival despite the harsh conditions was remarkable.
The Israel Embassy in New Delhi was informed about the successful rescue through the state government, and messages of appreciation poured in for the rescuers.
Agnihotri applauded the swift coordination between multiple departments and volunteers, saying, “It was an extremely challenging operation in difficult terrain. The safe recovery of Samuel is a testament to the dedication of our rescue forces.”
The incident once again underscores the unpredictable nature of high-altitude trekking in Himachal Pradesh, especially during adverse weather, and has prompted calls for greater safety awareness and stricter regulations for tourists venturing into such regions.
