Dehra Dun: In a tragic end, all nine members of an ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) mountaineering team were killed in an avalanche while returning after successfully climbing Panchachuli peak in Pithoragarh district of Uttaranchal, officials said on September 21.

The tragedy occurred on September 20 when the nine-member team, including three Everesters and two porters, was descending after climbing the 22,652 feet high Panchachuli peak, they said.

Bodies of seven mountaineers have been recovered by the two IAF helicopters, which began search for the team soon after it lost contact with the base camp, District Magistrate Navin Chander Sharma told reporters.

The bodies have not yet been identified, he said adding that a search was on for the two other team members.

Three persons who had claimed the world's highest peak Mount Everest -- S D Sharma, Shange Sherpa and Dava Sherpa -- were part of the team.

PTI