The Himalayas have been quite turbulent recently. Following the tragic deaths of 11 climbers attempting to summit Mount Everest, another incident has emerged: seven hikers and one local guide have gone missing while climbing another peak, with no contact for a full week now.
According to reports from CNN and the BBC, an incident involving missing hikers has occurred on Nanda Devi East, a peak in the Indian Himalayas. A team comprising four Britons, two Americans, one Australian, and one Indian guide set out on May 13 along with another group of four climbers to climb Nanda Devi East. They had planned to return to base camp on May 26, but only the other four climbers came back. After waiting several days, the expedition company reported the disappearance to Indian authorities on May 31.
Authorities have now deployed three rescue teams to conduct search operations around 25 kilometers from the summit, while a medical team has also been dispatched to provide support. The Indian Air Force has sent two helicopters to assist in the search within the mountainous region.
Officials stated that there are signs of possible avalanches in the area, but it remains unclear whether the team went missing during their ascent or descent.
Nanda Devi East stands at approximately 7,400 meters high, making it the second highest peak in India and the 23rd highest in the world. It is considered one of the most challenging peaks in the Himalayas to climb, which is why it sees relatively few visitors.