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Nanda Devi: Bodies spotted in hunt for climbers missing in India | Nanda Devi: Bodies spotted in hunt for climbers missing in India |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A helicopter crew searching for eight climbers who went missing in the Indian Himalayas has spotted five bodies, Indian officials say. | |
Four Britons, two Americans, an Australian and an Indian made up the missing climbers, who disappeared on India's second highest-peak. | |
Nanda Devi was believed to have been hit by multiple avalanches. | |
A source told AFP news agency the bodies were seen on the same route as the climbers had taken. | |
Authorities are trying to assess how to retrieve the bodies from treacherous terrain where helicopters cannot land, says the BBC's Yogita Limaye in Mumbai. | |
The missing 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 been assisting rescue efforts. | |
They had turned back early because of the bad weather, and were the last ones in contact with the larger group. | They had turned back early because of the bad weather, and were the last ones in contact with the larger group. |
Who are the missing? | 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. | 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. |
"Four bodies can be seen together and a fifth slightly away from the others," a senior official for the nearby Pithoragarh region told Reuters news agency. | "Four bodies can be seen together and a fifth slightly away from the others," a senior official for the nearby Pithoragarh region told Reuters news agency. |
Rescue workers are now operating on the assumption all eight climbers have been killed, Vijay Kumar Jogdande said, adding that they expected to find the three other bodies nearby. | Rescue workers are now operating on the assumption all eight climbers have been killed, Vijay Kumar Jogdande said, adding that they expected to find the three other bodies nearby. |
The family of Rupert Whewell says he is a very experienced climber and "the ice and rocks is where he is happiest". | The family of Rupert Whewell says he is a very experienced climber and "the ice and rocks is where he is happiest". |
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for York University said staff and students there were "extremely concerned" for Dr Payne's safety. | |
Martin Moran's family earlier said they were "deeply saddened by the tragic events". | Martin Moran's family earlier said they were "deeply saddened by the tragic events". |
What about the survivors? | What about the survivors? |
The four rescued climbers were named as Mark Thomas, 44, Ian Wade, 45, Kate Armstrong, 39, and Zachary Quain, 32. | 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. | 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). | Information they provided after their rescue helped to narrow the search area to about 50 sq km (20 sq miles). |
"Even if we airdrop someone, he will need at least six to eight days to acclimatise before he can undertake any rescue mission," Vivek Kumar Pandey, a spokesperson for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, told AFP. | "Even if we airdrop someone, he will need at least six to eight days to acclimatise before he can undertake any rescue mission," Vivek Kumar Pandey, a spokesperson for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, told AFP. |
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. |