SHIMLA: There is no whereabouts of around 35 students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorke, for last six days since they crossed the Hampta pass in Manali for Chhatru in Lahaul-Spiti district. Kullu District Administration has started the process to trace them to launch rescue operation. Besides, nine researchers from Kolkata and five students of IIT Mandi are also missing in the snow bound tribal district.Last time the group of IIT Roorkee students was seen by a resident of Manali and he informed the Kullu District Administration that group had crossed the mountain pass for Chhatru from where they were supposed to travel further in three tempo travelers already station at Chhatru. Earlier there was no information about them and the district administration too came to know about this on Monday night only.Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, Yunus said that IIT Roorkee group was last seen by local people on September 19 and since then there is no information available about them. “We are trying to establish contact with the Lahaul-Spiti administration to find their location and to launch the rescue operation,” he said.At present right there is no road connectivity beyond Manali as Rohtang Pass and entire Lahaul-Spiti district is buried under several feet deep snow. Chhatru lies between Rohtang Pass and Kunzum Pass along Gramphu-Kaza road and snow has made the area inaccessible besides no telephone connectivity is available in the district at the moment.Lahaul-Spiti administration has yet to establish contact with nine researchers from Kolkata who had gone to study the Gangsten Glacier right above Keylong town of district while five students of IIT Mandi are also missing in Chandertal area located right above Chhatru towards Kunzum pass. There are some Dhabas at Chhatru and Batal where the stranded tourists are hoped to be taking shelters. Himachal Pradesh Agriculture and Tribal Development Minister Dr Ram Lal Markanda said that officials from Lahaul-Spiti Administration from Kaza side had reached at Kunzum pass on Monday itself with the snow clearance machines and efforts are on to reach to the stranded people along Gramphu-Kaza road at the earliest.He said that air rescue operation would be launched on Monday for the stranded tourists provided weather remains supportive. He said that after 1955 this is the first time when Lahaul-Spiti district has witnessed such a heavy snowfall.

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