Trekker Missing for 6 Days in Uttarkashi: Friends Questioned as Search Shifts to Lake Near Campsite

A 23-year-old trekker, Babita Pandey, has been missing since May 29 during a trekking trip in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district. Police have taken the two friends who were last seen with her in CCTV footage in for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

According to police, the last CCTV footage of Babita Pandey was recorded in Raithal village, where she was seen along with the two men. They are currently being questioned at Maneri Police Station.

The two have been identified as Harman Pal Singh, a resident of Dineshpur in Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar district, and Harmanpreet Singh, a resident of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Both are 23 years old.

Police said the three left Udham Singh Nagar on May 25 for a trip to Uttarkashi. They stayed in Dehradun on the same day and reached Harsil on May 26.

The group reportedly spent May 26 and 27 visiting Harsil, Gangotri and other nearby tourist destinations before staying in Raithal village on May 28.

On May 29, the trio left for Dayara Bugyal and stayed at Goi Base Camp. According to police, Babita Pandey went missing from the campsite, triggering a large-scale search operation and investigation.

Six days after her disappearance, the search has entered a crucial phase, with authorities now focusing on a lake located near the campsite from where she was last reported missing.

Over the past several days, teams from the SDRF, NDRF, police, forest department and other agencies have conducted extensive searches across forests, trekking routes, slopes and other difficult terrain. However, no significant breakthrough has been made so far.

Officials believe the lake may provide an important lead in the case. A six-member special deep-search team is expected to reach the location and begin operations using modern equipment to thoroughly examine the lake and surrounding area.

Local residents and officials are closely monitoring the operation, hoping the intensified search effort will help uncover fresh clues in the disappearance of the missing trekker.