New Delhi/Shimla, Sep 14 - Nineteen trekkers from the Indian Army have been rescued from Himachal Pradesh's tribal Lahaul and Spiti district after being stranded in high altitude slopes due to untimely snowfall last week - the first rescue mission of the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, officials said Monday.

The trekkers, who were on an expedition to summit Pin Parbati Pass, were stranded at an altitude of 14,600 feet since Sep 8 due to incessant rains and heavy snowfall.

'The trekkers of the Pathankot-based AD Regiment were rescued Sunday. They had been stuck in the Pin Valley for the past many days due to hostile weather,' Superintendent of Police (Kullu) K.K. Indoria told IANS by telephone.

The army personnel were on a routine trekking expedition from Kheer Ganga near Manikaran in Kullu district to the Pin Valley in Lahaul and Spiti.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) then launched a mission in conjunction with the army to rescue the 19 trekkers.

'The situation demanded an immediate air rescue as the (expedition) team had been out of ration and were unable to either proceed or return.