Officials were reluctant to sound an alarm when Dyatlov's group was overdue. They had received information that there had been a heavy snowstorm in the area in which the party was headed and assumed that the hikers had made a camp in a safe area to ride out the storm. The parents of Dubinina and Kolevatov were told by the head of the UPI sport club [Lev Semyonovich Gordo] that Dyatlov had sent a telegram explaining the delay as they felt the group was probably already on their way back. Due to these delays, the relatives of the hikers eventually organized their own search party. The head of the military department of the University [UPI] took charge of the rescue party. Many students volunteered to go with Colonel Georgiy Semyonovich Ortyukov.  Several parties entered the region on February 21st. Two of the groups were headed by Vizhay Blinov and Sogrin as their hiking groups had just returned from the region and knew the conditions. Another group of hikers led by Vladislav Karelin was nearby and joined the search effort. Planes from Ivdel Airport searched from the air.

The next day even more joined the search, including prison guards [Captain A.A. Chernyshov] and policemen [Lieutenant Potapov].  Another 3 groups of students formed under the leadership of Oleg Grebennik, Moises Akselrod and Boris Slobtsov. Local Mansi hunters volunteered to help and search for the students. Moscow sent people including E.P. Maslenikov, Baskin, Bardin and Shuleshko.