Foot search for missing Arunachal’s Everester, aide called off

Itanagar, Sep 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The foot-based search and rescue operation to trace Tapi Mra, the first mountaineer from Arunachal Pradesh to conquer Mount Everest, and his associate Niku Dao, who had gone to climb the state's highest peak and have remained untraceable for the past 22 days, has been called off, officials said on Wednesday.

East Kameng district's Additional Deputy Commissioner Rajib Chiduni, however, said that four Army helicopters, which could not conduct any search operation on Wednesday due to inclement weather, would carry out the search operation on Thursday as there is prediction of clear weather.

Satellite imagery is being used to trace Mra and Dao.

Deputy Commissioner Pravimal Abhishek Polumatla said that they are trying to study the satellite imagery of the National Remote Sensing Centre and Shillong-based North East Space Applications Centre, but yet to get any clue as to the location of these mountaineers.

The district administration is continuously passing on details to the family members of Mra and Dao.

Polumatla said that Mra has taken up an expedition to Mt. Kyarisatam (Mt. Chiumo) which is located at the India-Tibet border at an altitude of 6,890 metres. However, both have been untraceable since August 17 as reported by the remaining six members of the expedition who reached Seppa from their expedition base camp on August 29 evening.

The state government has sought help from Indian Army's Tezpur-headquartered Gajraj Corps in the search and rescue mission.

Mra, 37, had climbed the highest peak of the world on May 21, 2009.

Source: IANS