Record-setter mountaineer Savita Kanswal among those killed in Uttarakhand avalanche
Uttarkashi (U'Khand)(PTI): Ace mountaineer Savita Kanswal, who had set a national record by climbing Mount Everest and Mount Makalu within a span of 15 days, was among those killed in the avalanche at Draupadi ka Danda-II in Uttarkashi district.
The principal of the Uttarkashi-based Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) Col Amit Bisht confirmed her death on Wednesday. Her body is among the four bodies retrieved so far.
A 41-member team of mountaineers was returning after climbing the peak when they were hit by the avalanche on Tuesday.
Kanswal worked as an instructor at NIM and accompanied the team of trainee climbers to Draupadi Ka Danda-II.
As the news of her demise broke, there was an outpouring of grief in her Lonthru village in the district.
Kanswal had set a national record by climbing Mount Everest and Mount Makalu within a span of 15 days earlier this year.
She had quickly carved a niche for herself in the world of mountaineering despite being relatively new to the field, Col Bisht said.
Kanswal had done her basic, advanced, search and rescue, and mountaineering instructor's courses from the NIM in 2013 and had been working as an instructor at the institute since 2018.
Col Bisht said Kanswal was one of the best instructors at the institute.
Born to Radheshyam Kanswal and Kamleshwari Devi, she was the youngest of four sisters.
Kanswal, who had humble origins, was ambitious and had the courage and resolve to fulfil her dreams, Col Bisht added.
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Businessman burnt to death as moving car catches fire in Noida
Noida (PTI): A 46-year-old businessman was burnt to death after his moving car caught fire in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha Nagar district, police said on Tuesday.
According to police, the victim was identified as Rajkumar Singhal, who was engaged in the paint business. The incident occurred late on Monday night near Sorkha village under the Sector 113 police station area.
Station House Officer Krishna Gopal Sharma said Singhal was driving towards Parthala Chowk when his vehicle suddenly caught fire for reasons yet to be ascertained.
Singhal was unable to get out of the car and died in the blaze, the SHO said.
Fire tenders reached the spot after receiving information, but the car had already been gutted, police said. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination and an investigation is underway.
Police suspect the presence of paint or other inflammable material in the car may have caused the fire to spread rapidly.
