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The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India

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Re: The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India

#13
post #2

Can one really die from hail? I have seen pretty big ones now and then, but usually one would cover their heads with their hands at least, to make it safely through it.

Yes, in Asia there have been deaths in sufficient numbers due to freak hailstorms. [1][2] Guess this has something to do with the first knock-off itself. [1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271147/Nine-people-... [2] http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=136175

Can hail storms be predicted accurately by the way ?

Re: The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India

#14
post #9

Even though this mystery is as good as solved, this mystery death remains still a mystery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident

I'm going to go ahead and say Cracked.com is probably correct on this one - avalanche.

http://www.cracked.com/article_16671_6-famous-unsolved-myste...

Re: The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India

#16
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, in Asia there have been deaths in sufficient numbers due to freak hailstorms. [1][2] Guess this has something to do with the first knock-off itself. [1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271147/Nine-people-... [2] http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=136175

Can hail storms be predicted accurately by the way ?

Possibly. There exist weather modelling and prediction techniques to assess the risk of hailstorm. A typical weather agency does do that already [1].

The key challenge here would always be to inform the disconnected locals in millions within a small area or region. A lot of equations fail when you consider the population density and economics of an average or below average citizen in Asia.

[1] http://www.hailstormforecasts.com.au/

Re: The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India

#17
post #3

I was there at the site in 2010. It was an amazing trek ( http://roopkund.com/ ). Right now, the forest officials are struggling to preserve the remains because tourist often like to take the skeletons back with them as souvenirs. Since the lake is far off and frozen for eight months in a year, it is difficult to guard the area. Most skeletons and bones have been stolen over the years with only a few skulls and bones…

Right now, the forest officials are struggling to preserve the remains because tourist often like to take the skeletons back with them as souvenirs.

I that's happening, it is surprising that tourists can pass through customs with human remains, undetected.

Re: The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India

#18
post #6
post #2

Can one really die from hail? I have seen pretty big ones now and then, but usually one would cover their heads with their hands at least, to make it safely through it.

9"/23cm hail would do you in pretty quick I would think. Even using my entire forearms I can only manage to partially cover my whole head. You'd be better off dropping down into the fetal position but if all the injuries were to the top of the head then it sounds like they didn't do that (maybe it started too quickly).

I think the comments to the article draw the correct conclusion - the author mixed up circumference with diameter, and the hail would have been 'only' 3 inches. Still pretty deadly, but not quite as terrifying as being bombarded with rock-hard soccer balls.

Re: The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India

#19
post #17
post #3

I was there at the site in 2010. It was an amazing trek ( http://roopkund.com/ ). Right now, the forest officials are struggling to preserve the remains because tourist often like to take the skeletons back with them as souvenirs. Since the lake is far off and frozen for eight months in a year, it is difficult to guard the area. Most skeletons and bones have been stolen over the years with only a few skulls and bones…

Right now, the forest officials are struggling to preserve the remains because tourist often like to take the skeletons back with them as souvenirs. I that's happening, it is surprising that tourists can pass through customs with human remains, undetected.

Well... India is a large country with a growing middle class. It doesn't need foreign tourists to do the damage.

Re: The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India

#20
post #17
post #3

I was there at the site in 2010. It was an amazing trek ( http://roopkund.com/ ). Right now, the forest officials are struggling to preserve the remains because tourist often like to take the skeletons back with them as souvenirs. Since the lake is far off and frozen for eight months in a year, it is difficult to guard the area. Most skeletons and bones have been stolen over the years with only a few skulls and bones…

Right now, the forest officials are struggling to preserve the remains because tourist often like to take the skeletons back with them as souvenirs. I that's happening, it is surprising that tourists can pass through customs with human remains, undetected.

It's not like all the tourists in India are from abroad. The majority are Indians from other states. We travel too, you know.
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