'It was huge snowball created by lightning and not avalanche that hit American trekkers'

A group of 14 trekkers, including 13 Americans, who were earlier believed to have escaped an avalanche near Pindari glacier at 14,000ft on the night of April 20, apparently had a close shave with a huge snowball created by lightning in the higher reaches, according to Ravi Kumar, director of National Outdoor Leadership School India (NOLS) in Ranikhet, which organised the 40-day trekking course for the team.