NANDA DEVI: Choppers have been deployed to join the search for eight climbers missing on Nanda Devi, India’s second highest mountain and the world’s 23rd highest mountain.

The government has deployed two helicopters of  Indian Air Force to launch an aerial search for the climbers.

The missing group includes four people from the UK, two Americans, an Australian and an Indian.

The climbers were led by a British mountain guide Martin Moran following 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.

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.

Nanda Devi is and was first scaled in 1936.

The team started climbing the 7,816-meter Nanda Devi East peak in the Himalayas on 13 May; concerns were raised when they did not make a scheduled return to base camp. (Agencies)