NAHARLAGUN, Sep 04: The foot-based search & rescue team, which has launched an operation to locate and rescue Arunachal Pradesh’s missing Everester Tapi Mra and his associate Niku Dao, today reached the confluence point of Kameng river and Wapria Bung in East Kameng.
While sharing this information with the media houses on the latest updates of the search and rescue operation for the missing Everester and his associate, Rajib Chiduni, Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Incident Commander, in a statement today said: “There was heavy flow Wapria Bung due to continuous rain. The team could not cross Wapria Bung today due to lack of adequate daylight.”
He informed that a medical camp has been set up in Longchu with one civil medical officer, two health assistants and necessary medicines.
Regarding the helicopter search & rescue operation, Chiduni informed: “Due to inclement weather, the helicopter search & rescue has been called off for today again.”
“Four Army helicopters are on standby to be deployed as and when weather permits,” he further stated.
Mra was the first Arunachalee to conquer Mount Everest. The mountaineer, who successfully scaled the Mount Everest in 2009, has remained missing along with his associate after he made his fourth attempt to scale snow-capped Mount Kyarisatam, which is Arunachal Pradesh’s highest peak in East Kameng district
East Kameng Deputy Commissioner Pravimal Abhishek Polumatia on Saturday had informed that the foot-based search & rescue operation team successfully moved to the forward locations as per plan.
The DC also said, “Continuous rain is making it very challenging for the foot-based team to make progress in the hilly terrain.”
Rajib Chiduni, ADC-cum-Incident Commander and Ashok Tajo, nodal officer (planning and logistics) visited Veo village to take stock of all the arrangements and address the gaps.
According to reports 2 ALH helicopters and 2 Cheetah helicopters have been kept on standby since August 30.
Capt Longjam Posy Singh of 11 Para (Special Force) is leading the search and rescue team having eight other officers including five junior commissioned officers along with 3 mountaineers – Tame Bagang, Tagit Sorang and Taro Hai, as per reports.
