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Nanda Devi: Helicopters join search for eight missing climbers | Nanda Devi: Helicopters join search for eight missing climbers |
(32 minutes later) | |
Helicopters have been deployed to join the search for eight climbers missing on India's second highest mountain. | Helicopters have been deployed to join the search for eight climbers missing on India's second highest mountain. |
The missing group includes four people from the UK, two Americans, an Australian and an Indian. | The missing group includes four people from the UK, two Americans, an Australian and an Indian. |
The team started climbing the 7,816-metre Nanda Devi East peak in the Himalayas on 13 May; concerns were raised when they did not make a scheduled return to base camp. | The team started climbing the 7,816-metre Nanda Devi East peak in the Himalayas on 13 May; concerns were raised when they did not make a scheduled return to base camp. |
Officials say there were signs of an avalanche on the mountain. | Officials say there were signs of an avalanche on the mountain. |
Emergency workers set out to find the group on Saturday but the operation was called off in the evening amid harsh weather conditions. | Emergency workers set out to find the group on Saturday but the operation was called off in the evening amid harsh weather conditions. |
The efforts resumed early on Sunday morning, as the Indian Air Force deployed two helicopters to launch an aerial search for the climbers. | The efforts resumed early on Sunday morning, as the Indian Air Force deployed two helicopters to launch an aerial search for the climbers. |
The climbers were being led by experienced British mountain guide Martin Moran, whose Scotland-based company Moran Mountain has run many expeditions in the Indian Himalayas. | The climbers were being led by experienced British mountain guide Martin Moran, whose Scotland-based company Moran Mountain has run many expeditions in the Indian Himalayas. |
The rest of the group have been named locally as John McLaren, Rupert Whewell and Richard Payne from the UK; US nationals Anthony Sudekum and Ronald Beimel; Australian Ruth McCance; and Indian guide Chetan Pandey. | |
Moran Mountain confirmed on Saturday that it was working with authorities and the British Association of Mountain Guides to "gather information regarding the Nanda Devi East expedition team." | |
"Out of respect for those involved and their families, we will be making no further comments at this time," it added. | "Out of respect for those involved and their families, we will be making no further comments at this time," it added. |
Photos posted to Moran Mountain's Facebook page the day before the start of the climb showed the group "starting their journey into the hills at Neem Kharoli Baba temple, Bhowali". | Photos posted to Moran Mountain's Facebook page the day before the start of the climb showed the group "starting their journey into the hills at Neem Kharoli Baba temple, Bhowali". |
An update on 22 May, posted from their second base camp at 4,870 metres, suggested that the group would attempt to summit a previously unclimbed peak on the mountain. | An update on 22 May, posted from their second base camp at 4,870 metres, suggested that the group would attempt to summit a previously unclimbed peak on the mountain. |
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has confirmed that it is in contact with Indian authorities about the missing climbers. | The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has confirmed that it is in contact with Indian authorities about the missing climbers. |
"We will do all we can to assist any British people who need our help," a spokesperson said. | "We will do all we can to assist any British people who need our help," a spokesperson said. |
Nanda Devi is the world's 23rd highest mountain and was first scaled in 1936. | Nanda Devi is the world's 23rd highest mountain and was first scaled in 1936. |
Considered one of the toughest Himalayan peaks to summit, it attracts fewer climbers than other mountains in the region. | Considered one of the toughest Himalayan peaks to summit, it attracts fewer climbers than other mountains in the region. |