Aerial search teams have spotted what they believe to be five bodies and bags where eight climbers, including an Australian woman, went missing in the Indian Himalayas, district official Vijay Jogdande has told the ABC.

Key points: A district official says they can only lift the bodies "after a technical assessment and advice"

A district official says they can only lift the bodies "after a technical assessment and advice" Eight climbers went missing in India's Himalayas on May 26

Eight climbers went missing in India's Himalayas on May 26 Harsh weather had been hampering search efforts

The eight climbers went missing after reports of a heavy avalanche on their proposed route on India's second-highest peak, Nanda Devi.

"Today an aerial survey team sighted five dead bodies," Dr Jogdande said.

"During the aerial survey we had taken certain photographs of that avalanche-hit region, and on careful examination of photograph, we were able to find five dead bodies.

"We can only lift the dead bodies after a technical assessment and advice."

Dr Jogdande said the search mission was now working on the assumption that all eight climbers had been killed.

He said the bodies were above 5,000 metres and the possibility of a second avalanche would make accessing the site difficult.

"Since the bodies are at high altitude it is inaccessible, it is still unstable terrain that could lead to a secondary avalanche. We're working out a plan.

"It has always been a dangerous place to go. Mount Everest is easier to climb."

Harsh weather hampering search efforts

Sydney woman Ruth McCance was one of the eight missing members of the expedition group.

When they failed to return to base camp on May 26, mountaineers searched a higher camp and found the group's tents empty.

Sydney mountaineer Ruth McCance is missing after an avalanche hit the Himalayas. ( Facebook )

The other climbers were John Mclaren, Rupert Whewell and Richard Payne from the United Kingdom, Anthony Sudekum and Ronald Beimel from the United States and Indian guide Chetan Pandey.

A search team has been sent to look for the expedition group, which was led by renowned UK-based mountain guide Martin Moran, but the rescuers are traveling on foot and are expected to take at least three days to reach their last known camp.

Harsh weather had also been hampering search efforts.

Family friend Peter Lowndes earlier said Ms McCance's husband, Trent Goldsack, had been taking the news of her disappearance "very hard", particularly due to initial delays in communication.

"He's been quite distraught about that … but he's trying to stay positive," Mr Lowndes said.

Ms McCance had recently returned to mountaineering after giving it up due to the danger, but she was very well prepared for the trip, having completed expeditions to high altitudes, and trained in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the missing Australian's family, but it could not provide any further details due to privacy reasons.

Four climbers in the group had turned back and later raised the alarm about their missing colleagues.

They were evacuated from their base camp by helicopter and were "fine and healthy", said Tripti Bhatt, an official of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force.

Ms McCance trained at high altitude in the lead-up to the expedition. ( Facebook )

ABC/Reuters