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Three Britons among group missing after Himalayan avalanche Three British climbers among group of eight missing in Himalayas
(about 11 hours later)
At least three people from the UK, as well as two from the US and an Australian woman, are reported to be among a group of eight climbers who have gone missing in the Himalayas after a heavy avalanche.At least three people from the UK, as well as two from the US and an Australian woman, are reported to be among a group of eight climbers who have gone missing in the Himalayas after a heavy avalanche.
It is believed the climbers, including an Indian guide, failed to return to base camp after their attempt to climb to the summit of Nanda Devi, India’s second-highest mountain at 7,434 metres, on a previously unclimbed route. It is believed the climbers, including an Indian guide, failed to return to base camp after their attempt to reach the summit of Nanda Devi, India’s second-highest mountain at 7,434 metres, on a previously unclimbed route.
India sent out a search team on foot on Saturday, but they were not expected to reach the amateur climbers’ last known camp for three days. However, it is hoped that a helicopter will be able to drop rescuers in on Sunday. ‘Walking over bodies’: mountaineers describe carnage on Everest
“We always have hope, but to be practical, we have to be prepared for bad news,” Indian Mountaineering Foundation spokesman Amit Chowdhury told the Australian Associated Press on Saturday. Indian authorities sent out a search team on foot on Saturday, but they were not expected to reach the amateur climbers’ last known camp for three days. However, it is hoped that a helicopter will be able to drop rescuers into the area on Sunday.
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are in contact with the Indian authorities following reports that a number of British nationals are missing in the Indian Himalayas. We will do all we can to assist any British people who need our help.” “We always have hope, but to be practical, we have to be prepared for bad news,” Indian Mountaineering Foundation spokesman Amit Chowdhury said on Saturday.
A spokesperson from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was “providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian that may be among a group of trekkers missing in the Nanda Devi area of India. Due to privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further information.” The British-based mountain guide Martin Moran, who owns trekking company Moran Mountain, was leading the group, which was also believed to have included a 47-year-old Australian woman, Ruth McCance.
In a Facebook post last week, the company that arranged the expedition said: “The Nanda Devi team has reached their second base camp at 4,870 metres, their home for the next week. After a recce of the route, they will be making a summit attempt on an unclimbed peak at 6,477 metres.” Mark Charlton, president of the British Association of Mountain Guides (BMG), said in a post on the organisation’s Facebook page that Moran had been leading six clients and an Indian national.
“The BMG is assisting where possible and is in contact with the Indian authorities,” he said. “At the moment this is all the information we have as communication is very difficult.”
A post on the Moran Mountain Facebook page said the company was working with authorities and the BMG to gather information about the expedition team.
The missing eight were reportedly part of a larger contingent of 12 who began their ascent from the village of Munsiyari, in the hill state of Uttarakhand, in north India near the western Nepal border, on 13 May.The missing eight were reportedly part of a larger contingent of 12 who began their ascent from the village of Munsiyari, in the hill state of Uttarakhand, in north India near the western Nepal border, on 13 May.
However, by last Saturday just four of the group had returned to base camp and authorities were informed of the others’ disappearance on Friday, officials told local media.
It is unclear if the climbers went missing during their ascent or descent, while the cause of their disappearance remains unknown.
The group said it had trekked into the heart of the Nanda Devi sanctuary “with the ambition of summiting a virgin peak”. The complete trip was expected to take about 24 days.The group said it had trekked into the heart of the Nanda Devi sanctuary “with the ambition of summiting a virgin peak”. The complete trip was expected to take about 24 days.
It follows a number of deaths on the mountains this year, with five people – including a British man and an Irish man – reported to have died last week amid overcrowding and poor weather. There have reportedly been a record 381 permits issued to scale Everest for this climbing season. An earlier post on May 13 showed the group beginning their trek “into the hills at Neem Kharoli Baba temple, Bhowali”.
According to an update on 22 May, the group had reached their second base camp at 4870m and were due to make a summit attempt on an unclimbed peak at 6477m.
However, by last Saturday – 25 May – the expedition’s British deputy leader, Mark Thomas, had returned at the second base camp with three others.
He was in radio contact with the group of eight that pushed higher but when Thomas did not hear from the group by last Sunday he went up to look for them. He reportedly found a single unoccupied tent.
There was evidence of a large avalanche beyond that.
It was unclear if the climbers went missing during their ascent or descent, while the cause of their disappearance remains unknown.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: “We are in contact with the Indian authorities following reports that a number of British nationals are missing in the Indian Himalayas. We will do all we can to assist any British people who need our help.”
A spokesperson from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was “providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian that may be among a group of trekkers missing in the Nanda Devi area of India”.
The news follows a number of deaths in the Himalayas this year, with at least 11 people – including a British man and an Irish man – reported to have died on Everest in the past two weeks amid overcrowding and poor weather. There have reportedly been a record 381 permits issued to scale Everest for this climbing season.
IndiaIndia
MountaineeringMountaineering
South and Central AsiaSouth and Central Asia
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