THE DYATLOV PASS INCIDENT

On February 1, 1959 in the remote Ural Mountains of western Siberia 9 hikers on a hiking trip pitched their tent and then abandoned it. Their bodies were found 1500 metres away. The tent was cut open from the inside. The bodies were bare foot and had sleeping clothes on. Autopsies revealed severe internal injuries, bleedings and missing eyes. The Dyatlov pass incident (named after the group leader, 23 year old Igor Dyatlov) is one of the most talked about mysteries. After more than 60 years, the question still remains, what made them leave their tent ?

6 hikers died from hypothermia, while 3, Kolevatov, Zolotaryov and Dubinina died from internal injuries. The 3 with internal injuries had broken ribs and fractured skulls. Zolotaryov and Dubinina were missing their eyes and Dubinina was missing her tongue too. Dubinina and Kolevatov were found wearing clothes contaminated with excessive amounts of radioactive substances. The lead Soviet investigator Lev Ivanov closed the case on May 28, 1959. He concluded that no crime was committed (citing the lack of external injuries and that no valuables were stolen) and the cause of death was "overwhelming force, which the hikers were not able overcome". Since then, dozens of theories have tried to explain the incident. From murder by the KGB, to Yeti attack, to UFOs and secret Soviet experiments. But two theories give plausible solutions to the two most important questions: what made the hikers abandon their tent and what caused the severe injuries.

The first theory is that the hikers were hit by an Avalanche. This theory was debunked for many years as data shows that avalanches do not cause such severe injuries. But a 2021 papers suggested that a "delayed slab avalanche" could be responsible for such type of injuries. In a delayed slab avalanche, the snow would have build up above a weak layer of snow, and when the weak layer collapses, this triggers an avalanche. 

The second theory is the katabatic wind theory. A katabatic wind is a "falling wind" which travels down a mountain slope quickly gaining speed with the help of gravity and can create hurricane like situation. This would have forced the hikers to flee their camp and travel away in a hurry. The three hikers with internal injuries might have dug themselves a snow den for shelter which may have collapsed and crushed them.

But in the end, these are still theories. What actually happened that night is still unknown.