Lost on the trail

Darjeeling, Nov. 2: Even after five days, the German tourist on a trek to West Sikkim remains untraced. A forty-nine-year-old Catholic Priest named Ober Moyer Hans was on a 10-day trek to Gochela, which is situated at an altitude of 16,400 ft. He was on a team that left Yuksom – 125 km from Darjeeling – on October 19, and has been missing since.

Hans was actually seen for the last time on October 28 in Choka. It is thought that the German lost his way in the wilderness between Choka and Bakim – 12 km from Yuksom. The walking stick and water bottle used by Hans was recovered – and it was believed he got lost in the dense forest where there is little space for trekking. Rescue operations are underway in full swing to find the missing trekker and the team is hopeful he would be found soon.

Though the trek between Yuksom and Gochela is only 36 km, the arduous journey takes at least five to six days because of the difficult terrain. The matter has also been reported to the Geyzing police since the area falls under their jurisdiction. Sources say this is the rarest of cases when a tourist was missing in of the most popular treks in the region.

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