Tragic Mishap in Himachal: 2 Trekkers Pass Away After Falling, Dog Protects Bodies for 48 Hours

Two days after they went missing, the bodies of two trekkers, Abhinandan Gupta and Pranita Wala, were found by a German Shepherd dog who had remained beside them and kept barking until they were discovered. Located at an altitude of 5,000 feet, Bir Billing is a popular destination for treks and paragliding.

Gupta, an experienced paraglider and trekker, had been living in the area for four years, while Wala had recently arrived from Pune. The trekkers had set out in a car with a group of four people, but when the car could not proceed, they continued on foot.

As the weather changed, two members of the group decided to turn back, leaving Gupta, Wala, and the dog to continue. After they failed to return, a search party was sent out, eventually locating their bodies three kilometers below the paragliding take-off point.

According to a member of the rescue team, the area where the bodies were found is steep and becomes very slippery during snowfall. It is believed that the trekkers slipped and fell, and although they managed to get up once, they slipped again.

The bodies were recovered and autopsied before being handed over to the families. The police officer in charge of the district, Veer Bahadur, emphasized the importance of tourists being accompanied by a local resident or guide with knowledge of the area, particularly as the weather in Kangra district can change rapidly.

He also highlighted the poor phone connectivity in the area and advised against venturing out during poor weather conditions.