Nanda Devi: Bodies spotted in hunt for climbers missing in India

A helicopter crew searching for eight climbers who went missing in the Indian Himalayas has spotted five bodies, Indian officials say.

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

Nanda Devi was believed to have been hit by multiple avalanches.

A source told AFP news agency the bodies were seen on the same route as the climbers had taken.

Authorities are trying to assess how to retrieve the bodies from treacherous terrain where helicopters cannot land, says the BBC's Yogita Limaye in the state of Uttarakhand.

The missing climbers have not been heard from since 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.