Eight Climbers On Nanda Devi Still Missing, Officials Say Little Chance Of Finding Them Alive

After unsuccessful attempts to trace right missing climbers in Himalayan region, around Nanda Devi mountain with the help of two Indian Air Force helicopters, the officials have now said it¡¯s unlikely to find the survivors.

The area was hit by an avalanche after which the climbers went missing.

The eight climbers included climbers from Australia, Britain, United States and India and the rescue effort were started on Saturday when they didn¡¯t return to the base camp. It may take days to trek to the avalanche hit area where the missing climbers were known to have been seen last.

Reuters

"The first aerial recce has concluded," said Vijay Kumar Jogdanda, heading authorities in Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand told news agency Reuters.

"There were only tents spotted, but no human presence. The second helicopter has left for the recce."

He added, "Chances of survival are bleak," and confirmed the occurrence of an avalanche that is feared to have caught the climbers in the area around India's second-highest peak. Officials have declined to identify them.

Reuters

Tripti Bhatt, the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) official told Reuters that a team of 15 rescuers which includes police, administration officials, and disaster response personnel have been sent to find the survivors.

She also told that the casualties of the climbers in this region are five times higher than on Mount Everest where lately there have been reports of many casualties.

She also told that the rescue team has all equipment needed such as avalanche gear, drones and satellite phone to help them find the survivors.

But the rescue team will need at least three days of walking to get to the site where avalanche has hit.