A RENOWNED mountain tour leader based in Scotland is one of a number of people who have gone missing while climbing on India's second-highest mountain.
Martin Moran, who runs Moran Mountain in Lochacarron, Wester Ross, was leading a party of eight climbers on Nanda Devi which failed to return to base camp.
His family have released a statement saying they are "deeply saddened" by his disappearance, and have urged the Indian authorities not to give up the search.
Army rescuers have been scouring the region for traces of the climbers, and it is feared they may have been caught in an avanche.
An official who completed one survey of the area now said the group's chances of survival were "bleak".
Mr Moran is an experienced climber who has led groups on expeditions to the mountains for a number of years.
An expert on Scottish mountaineering who has written about bagging all of the Munros in winter, his family-based business is run with wife Joy.
In a statement, the Moran family said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic events unfolding in the Nanda Devi region of the Indian Himalayas.
“As a family, we share the same emotions that all next of kin are experiencing in not knowing the whereabouts or well-being of those closest to us.”
The rest of the group have been named locally as John McLaren, Rupert Whewell and Richard Payne from the UK; US nationals Anthony Sudekum and Ronald Beimel; Australian Ruth McCance and Indian guide Chetan Pandey.
The University of York confirmed one of its lecturers, Dr Richard Payne, had been reported missing after travelling to the Himalayas on a climbing trip.
"We are extremely concerned for his safety," it said in a statement.
The company updated its Facebook page last month
The Moran family said the climbing group “had set out to attempt an unclimbed, unnamed summit, Peak 6477m, and the last contact intimated that all was well”.
They added: “It is not entirely clear what happened from this point onwards or indeed the timeline of events.
“We do know that a British mountain guide who was in the area leading a trekking group, as part of the same expedition, was informed that the climbing group had not returned to base camp as expected.
“He immediately went on the mountain to search for the missing climbers.
“There was clear evidence that a sizeable avalanche had occurred on the mountain and it seemed to be on or very near the route that would be taken by the climbing group.
“The mountain guide gave instructions to base camp to alert rescue authorities. The alarm was raised early on Friday morning, May 31.”
Nanda Devi is in the Indian section of the Himalayas
Moran Mountain said in a statement: "We are working with the authorities and the British Association of Mountiain Guides to gather information regarding the Nanda Devi East expedition team.
READ MORE: Family pay tribute to ‘aspirational’ British climber who died on Everest
'"Out of respect for those involved and their families, we will be making no furtehr comments at this time.'
Earlier, officials said four other British climbers had been rescued.
They were airlifted to safety after being spotted early on Sunday at a base camp near Nanda Devi.
The four rescued were not part of the larger group, but were in touch with them until 26 May - a day before an avalanche hit the 7,816-metre mountain, according to authorities.
This smaller group had returned to the base camp from Nanda Devi East due to harsh weather conditions, while the eight-member group headed for the summit of another unnamed peak, government official Vijay Kumar Jogdanda said.
"The first aerial recce has concluded," said Mr Jogdanda earlier on Sunday, confirming an avalanche was feared to have caught the group in the area around India's second-highest peak.
He added: "There were only tents spotted, but no human presence. The second helicopter has left for the recce. Chances of survival are bleak."
The UK Foreign Office said: "We are in contact with the Indian authorities following reports that a number of British nationals are missing in the Indian Himalayas.
"We will do all we can to assist any British people who need our help."
Indian Air Force helicopters have joined the search for the climbers missing on the country's second highest mountain.
The team started climbing Nanda Devion 13 May; the alarm was raised when they did not return to base camp as scheduled on Friday.
Officials say there were signs of an avalanche on the 7,816-metre mountain.
Emergency workers set out to find the group on Saturday but the operation was called off in the evening amid harsh weather conditions.
READ MORE: Family launch fundraising drive in search for Irishman missing on Everest
The incident comes after 11 climbers died on Mount Everest in separate incidents, making this year one of the deadliest in history.
Mount Everest has been beset with overcrowding
The efforts resumed early on Sunday morning, as the Indian Air Force deployed two helicopters to launch an aerial search for the climbers.
Photos posted to Moran Mountain's Facebook page the day before the start of the climb showed the group "starting their journey into the hills at Neem Kharoli Baba temple, Bhowali".
An update on 22 May, posted from their second base camp at 4,870 metres, suggested that the group would attempt to summit a previously unclimbed peak on the mountain.
Nanda Devi is the world's 23rd highest mountain and was first scaled in 1936.
READ MORE: Search for missing Scottish climber called off
Considered one of the toughest Himalayan peaks to summit, it attracts fewer climbers than other mountains in the region.
Mark Charlton, President of the British Mpuntain Guides, said: "The ‘British Association of Mountain Guides’ (BMG) have been made aware of an incident on or near Nanda Devi East where BMG member, IFMGA Mountain Guide, Martin Moran was leading six clients and an Indian National. The BMG is assisting where possible and is in contact with the Indian authorities.
"At the moment this is all the information we have as communication is very difficult. We will update this post when more reliable facts have been established."
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