Four Britons feared dead in attempt on ‘virgin’ peak
Group believed to have been hit by avalanche as they made first ever ascent of Himalayan mountain
A MOUNTAIN guide and three amateur British climbers were among eight people feared dead last night after they vanished while attempting to scale a “virgin peak” in the Himalayas.
Martin Moran, an experienced mountaineer, was leading an expedition on the previously unclimbed Nanda Devi East peak, part of India’s second-highest mountain. The group included Britons Richard Payne, an environmental geography lecturer at the University of York, John Mclaren and Rupert Whewell.
Mr Moran’s family said last night that there was “clear evidence” an avalanche had hit the mountain near the climbing group’s route, as they appealed for the search and rescue effort to be widened today.
The incident comes amid growing concerns surrounding climbers’ safety in the Himalayas, highlighted recently by photographs showing big groups queuing to climb Mount Everest.
Ronald Beimel and Anthony Sudekum, both American citizens, Ruth Mccance, an Australian, and Chetan Pandey, an Indian guide, were also among the party that disappeared on Friday while attempting the 6,477m peak.
Indian officials admitted the survival chances for the climbers were “bleak”. One said that footprints had been spotted in the snow leading into the avalanche.
As part of the search effort, two Indian air force helicopters were called in on Saturday, but the operation was suspended due to bad weather. The search is to resume today.
Mr Moran led the group on its ascent on May 13 as part of a planned fourweek trip. His party was reported missing after failing to reach Nanda Devi base camp on Friday and the nearby village of Munsiyari on Saturday.
Local officials confirmed that “multiple avalanches” had hit the route the climbers had been exploring.
Yesterday, Vijay Kumar Jogdande, a civil administrator in northern India’s Uttarakhand state, said: “The first aerial recce has concluded. There were tents spotted, but no human presence. Chances of survival are bleak. The route is extremely dangerous and risky and there has been multiple avalanches.”
He said that further missions on foot would be dependent on whether “any evidence is found” that the climbers may have survived.
Indian officials said rescue efforts would be guided by four other British climbers who were resting after being rescued separately yesterday.
Mr Moran, originally from Tyneside, was described by friends as “an absolute professional”.
A mountain guide since 1985, he set up Moran Mountain, which is based in Strathcarron in the Highlands, together with his wife Joy.
A statement from the family of Mr Moran read: “We are pressing for the search area to be widened and continued until firm evidence is found to ascertain the well-being or otherwise of the group.”
This year’s climbing season in the Himalayas has proved to be one of the deadliest on record, with 11 deaths reported so far. Photographs from Mount Everest show long queues snaking up through the “death zone”, prompting calls to restrict access to the peaks.
A Foreign Office spokesman 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.”