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A British tourist died after falling during a trek in the Dhauladhar mountains of the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh in India.
The 27-year-old man, who is still to be named pending formal identification, suffered serious injuries after falling down a cliff during the descent and was declared dead upon arrival at hospital.
The victim had been hiking with a fellow British tourist near the village of Thathri on the outskirts of Dharamshala when the accident occurred.
The Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Response Force launched a rescue operation on Sunday evening after it was alerted to the accident at 6pm local time.
A team of 10 rescue workers navigated “extremely difficult terrain” to reach the hikers and found them at 10.30pm. One of the men was found critically injured and secured onto a stretcher for evacuation.
Progress was slow due to the rugged landscape, prompting additional rescue teams to be deployed.
The Disaster Response Force said rescuers took nearly two hours to cover just 100m due to repeated crossings of a rivulet and the mountain’s steep incline.
The evacuation continued through the night and into Monday, with the combined efforts of all teams enabling them to bring the injured man and his friend down at 5.08pm. The injured hiker was taken to the Zonal Hospital in Dharamshala, where he was pronounced dead.
Reports said the man likely sustained rib injuries from the fall. His companion was unharmed.
Authorities said the British tourists were likely unaware of a ban on high-altitude trekking in Himachal Pradesh during the winter season.
According to local officials, the men had arrived in Dharamshala on Friday and set off on Sunday for a trek from Dharamkot to Triund, a popular trail that reaches nearly 3,000m in altitude.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed the fatality, with a spokesperson stating: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in India and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The Dhauladhar range is part of the Himalayas, which stretch across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan. While the Triund trek is generally considered suitable for fit beginners, winter conditions significantly increase the risks.
