Attempts to retrieve the bodies of five climbers from the Himalayas have been postponed by Indian officials.

Officials told the BBC that a helicopter, carrying the rescue team turned back after three failed attempts to drop them on the peak.

Four Britons, two Americans, an Australian and an Indian made up the missing climbers, who had been attempting India's second-highest peak.

The bodies were spotted by an Indian rescue mission on Monday.

Officials told the BBC that the tough terrain and the "limitations" of the helicopter had forced them to abort the mission.

Earlier, officials had said that the operation was "very risky" because of harsh weather, adding success would be a "miracle".

Officials now say that they will reconvene to think of another strategy to retrieve the bodies.

It's believed that Nanda Devi was hit by multiple avalanches when the group was trying to scale one of the peaks there.

Contact was lost with the climbers on 26 May, a day before an avalanche hit the 7,816-metre mountain.

Four other climbers who were part of the group ascending the peak were rescued on Sunday and have since been assisting rescue efforts.

They had turned back early because of the bad weather, and were the last ones in contact with the larger group.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1305 HRS, JUN 5, 2019
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