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| Nanda Devi: Bodies spotted in hunt for climbers missing in India | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A helicopter searching for eight climbers who went missing in the Indian Himalayas has spotted five bodies, Indian sources say. | |
| Four Britons, two Americans, an Australian and an Indian made up the missing group who disappeared on India's second highest-peak. | Four Britons, two Americans, an Australian and an Indian made up the missing group who disappeared on India's second highest-peak. |
| "They were on the same route as the climbers had taken," a source told AFP, referring to the bodies seen. | "They were on the same route as the climbers had taken," a source told AFP, referring to the bodies seen. |
| The Nanda Devi mountain was believed to have been hit by multiple avalanches. | The Nanda Devi mountain was believed to have been hit by multiple avalanches. |
| Authorities are trying to assess how to retrieve the bodies from such treacherous terrain where helicopters cannot land, says the BBC's Yogita Limaya in Mumbai. | Authorities are trying to assess how to retrieve the bodies from such treacherous terrain where helicopters cannot land, says the BBC's Yogita Limaya in Mumbai. |
| The climbers have not been heard from since 26 May, a day before an avalanche hit the 7,816-metre mountain. | The climbers have not been heard from since 26 May, a day before an avalanche hit the 7,816-metre mountain. |
| Four other climbers who were part of the group ascending the peak were rescued on Sunday and have since then been assisting rescue efforts. | Four other climbers who were part of the group ascending the peak were rescued on Sunday and have since then been assisting rescue efforts. |
| They had turned back early because of the harsh weather, and were the last ones in contact with the larger group. | They had turned back early because of the harsh weather, and were the last ones in contact with the larger group. |
| Who are the missing? | |
| The missing group was being led by experienced British mountain guide Martin Moran, whose Scotland-based company Moran Mountain has run numerous expeditions in the Indian Himalayas. | |
| The rest of the group have been named 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. | |
| "Some bodies were visible during the helicopter recce," the military source told AFP. | |
| "The chances of survival are very, very bleak at a height of 15-18,000 feet [4,570-5,500 metres] in such a cold climate. It is almost impossible they are alive." | |
| What about the survivors? | |
| The four rescued climbers were named as Mark Thomas, 44, Ian Wade, 45, Kate Armstrong, 39, and Zachary Quain, 32. | |
| They had been airlifted to safety after being spotted early on Sunday at Munsiyari base camp near Nanda Devi. | |
| Information they provided after their rescue helped to narrow the search area to about 50 sq km (20 sq miles). | |
| 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. |