Helicopters join search for eight missing climbers

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 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.

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.