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Nanda Devi: Rescued climbers search for missing mountaineers | Nanda Devi: Rescued climbers search for missing mountaineers |
(32 minutes later) | |
Four British climbers who were rescued from an expedition in the Himalayas have joined an aerial search to find eight fellow mountaineers. | Four British climbers who were rescued from an expedition in the Himalayas have joined an aerial search to find eight fellow mountaineers. |
Two Indian air force helicopters are searching the mountains for the missing group, made up of four Britons, two Americans, an Australian and an Indian. | Two Indian air force helicopters are searching the mountains for the missing group, made up of four Britons, two Americans, an Australian and an Indian. |
The mountaineers began ascending Nanda Devi on 13 May with the four other climbers, who were rescued on Sunday. | The mountaineers began ascending Nanda Devi on 13 May with the four other climbers, who were rescued on Sunday. |
The group of four has helped to narrow down the search area, officials said. | The group of four has helped to narrow down the search area, officials said. |
They boarded a helicopter on Monday morning to help search efforts, the BBC's Shalu Yadav said. | They boarded a helicopter on Monday morning to help search efforts, the BBC's Shalu Yadav said. |
Indian rescuers resumed their search on Monday after poor weather hampered progress. Rescuers have said the chances of finding the larger group are "bleak". | Indian rescuers resumed their search on Monday after poor weather hampered progress. Rescuers have said the chances of finding the larger group are "bleak". |
The four rescued climbers were named by India TV as Mark Thomas, 44, Ian Wade, 45, Kate Armstrong, 39, and Zachary Quain, 32. | |
They were airlifted to safety after being spotted early on Sunday at Munsiyari base camp near Nanda Devi. They had returned there to due to harsh weather. | They were airlifted to safety after being spotted early on Sunday at Munsiyari base camp near Nanda Devi. They had returned there to due to harsh weather. |
R C Rajguru, police chief of the Pithoragarh district, said on Monday the rescued climbers have helped to give a "rough idea" of where the missing group had been trekking. | R C Rajguru, police chief of the Pithoragarh district, said on Monday the rescued climbers have helped to give a "rough idea" of where the missing group had been trekking. |
The larger group headed for the summit of another unnamed peak, government official Vijay Kumar Jogdanda said. | The larger group headed for the summit of another unnamed peak, government official Vijay Kumar Jogdanda said. |
Both groups remained in touch until 26 May - a day before an avalanche hit the 7,816-metre mountain, according to authorities. | Both groups remained in touch until 26 May - a day before an avalanche hit the 7,816-metre mountain, according to authorities. |
The missing group was led by experienced British mountain guide Martin Moran, originally from Tyneside. His Scotland-based company Moran Mountain has run numerous expeditions in the Indian Himalayas. | |
In a statement, his family said they were "deeply saddened" and were pressing for the search area to be widened. | In a statement, his family said they were "deeply saddened" and were pressing for the search area to be widened. |
Moran Mountain confirmed on Saturday that it was working with authorities and the British Association of Mountain Guides (BMG) to gather information. | Moran Mountain confirmed on Saturday that it was working with authorities and the British Association of Mountain Guides (BMG) to gather information. |
BMG said in a statement that the group had decided to attempt the unnamed summit - referred to as Peak 6447m - as part of their acclimatisation training before the planned ascent of Nanda Devi East. | BMG said in a statement that the group had decided to attempt the unnamed summit - referred to as Peak 6447m - as part of their acclimatisation training before the planned ascent of Nanda Devi East. |
Mr Moran had sent a message on 25 May indicating all was well, the weather was good and the group intended to attempt Peak 6447m in the early hours of 26 May, BMG said. | Mr Moran had sent a message on 25 May indicating all was well, the weather was good and the group intended to attempt Peak 6447m in the early hours of 26 May, BMG said. |
But base camp support staff alerted another BMG guide, Mark Thomas, when Mr Moran's group failed to return on the expected date. The rescue effort began on Saturday. | But base camp support staff alerted another BMG guide, Mark Thomas, when Mr Moran's group failed to return on the expected date. The rescue effort began on Saturday. |
The rest of the group have been named locally as John McLaren, Rupert Whewell and University of York lecturer Dr Richard Payne from the UK; US nationals Anthony Sudekum and Ronald Beimel; Australian Ruth McCance and Indian guide Chetan Pandey. | The rest of the group have been named locally as John McLaren, Rupert Whewell and University of York lecturer Dr Richard Payne from the UK; US nationals Anthony Sudekum and Ronald Beimel; Australian Ruth McCance and Indian guide Chetan Pandey. |
Mr Jogdanda said on Sunday tents had been spotted by an aerial search, but that no human presence had been seen. | Mr Jogdanda said on Sunday tents had been spotted by an aerial search, but that no human presence had been seen. |
"Chances of survival are bleak," he added. | "Chances of survival are bleak," he added. |
A team of 10 to 15 rescuers, comprising police, disaster response personnel and administrators, was also involved, said Tripti Bhatt, an official of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). | A team of 10 to 15 rescuers, comprising police, disaster response personnel and administrators, was also involved, said Tripti Bhatt, an official of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). |
Authorities warned it could take days to trek to the area where the missing climbers were last known to have been. | Authorities warned it could take days to trek to the area where the missing climbers were last known to have been. |
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) confirmed it was in contact with Indian authorities and would do all it could to help. | The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) confirmed it was in contact with Indian authorities and would do all it could to help. |
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 climb, it attracts fewer climbers than other mountains in the region. | Considered one of the toughest Himalayan peaks to climb, it attracts fewer climbers than other mountains in the region. |