Toronto professor missing after avalanche hits climbing group in India
A University of Toronto professor is missing in India after an avalanche struck during an expedition trip he was on.
Peter Wittek was climbing Mount Trishul, a Himalayan peak in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India, with five other mountaineers on Sunday when the avalanche occurred.
His brother, Gergo Oberfrank, said Wittek was resting in his tent at the time, situated at a peak of approximately 5,900 metres above sea level.
All but 37-year-old Wittek were able to escape.
“There was another person who was struck by the avalanche, but that person dug out and he or she survived,” Oberfrank told Global News by phone on Wednesday.
“My brother is still missing.”
A rescue team has been sent to the area, but it could take days to reach Camp 2, where Wittek was last seen.
“They’re still waiting for the search and rescue team to arrive,” the manager told Global News by phone. “It has been three days since he has been reported missing.”
![peter-e1570024798393.jpg](/forums/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fshawglobalnews.files.wordpress.com%2F2019%2F10%2Fpeter-e1570024798393.jpg%3Fquality%3D70%26strip%3Dall%26w%3D720&hash=8ad033c50237b1962d234bcc4e5b0a62)
A University of Toronto professor is missing in India after an avalanche struck during an expedition trip he was on.
Peter Wittek was climbing Mount Trishul, a Himalayan peak in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India, with five other mountaineers on Sunday when the avalanche occurred.
His brother, Gergo Oberfrank, said Wittek was resting in his tent at the time, situated at a peak of approximately 5,900 metres above sea level.
All but 37-year-old Wittek were able to escape.
“There was another person who was struck by the avalanche, but that person dug out and he or she survived,” Oberfrank told Global News by phone on Wednesday.
“My brother is still missing.”
A rescue team has been sent to the area, but it could take days to reach Camp 2, where Wittek was last seen.
“They’re still waiting for the search and rescue team to arrive,” the manager told Global News by phone. “It has been three days since he has been reported missing.”