Shimla, June 11,
An Israeli tourist has gone missing in the Triund region of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, triggering a large-scale search operation by local authorities. Identified as 35-year-old Samuel Vengrinovich, the tourist had embarked on the trek to Triund on June 6, accompanied by four others. However, during the course of the hike, he got separated from his group and has since remained untraceable.
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The incident was formally reported to the McLeodganj police by one of Samuel’s companions, Ediblam, prompting a swift response from the district administration. Search efforts, currently underway, are being spearheaded by teams from the local police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). These teams are combing the densely forested and rugged areas surrounding Triund, Indrahar Pass, Jot, and other adjoining high-altitude locations.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kangra, Hitesh Lakhanpal, confirmed that ground teams are on high alert and the district administration is maintaining close oversight of the ongoing operation. The Israeli Embassy in New Delhi has also been notified, and coordination with them is ongoing as the search intensifies.
In a separate case that initially sparked concern, four youths from Kanpur who had gone missing while trekking from Manali to Rohtang Pass have been located safe and unharmed. The group had lost contact with their families due to switched-off mobile phones, leading to worry about their whereabouts. However, they had spent the night at Chandertal and reached Koksar on Tuesday morning, where they were traced.
One of the trekkers, Nishant Dubey, extended heartfelt thanks to the Lahaul-Spiti police for their prompt action and for facilitating communication with their families. The safe recovery of the Kanpur group offers a sigh of relief, even as efforts to locate the missing Israeli national continue with urgency.
