Bodies of Climbers Recovered After Broad Peak Avalanche
Rescue teams in Pakistan have recovered the bodies of renowned Nepali climber Nirmal Purja and several other mountaineers after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Gilgit-Baltistan, according to reports from Dawn. The avalanche occurred around midday on Thursday, and the 10-member expedition team was reported missing shortly afterward.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) confirmed that the team included six Nepalese climbers, a Pakistani, an Omani, an American, and a climber from China. The Nepalese members were identified as Purja, Pur Bahadur Gurung, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa, and Gyalu Sherpa. The others were Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy from Oman, Sohail Sakhi from Pakistan, Wang Zhong from China, and Mallory Geis from the United States.
On Friday, Dawn reported that two bodies had been found, later revised to four. ACP President Major General Irfan Arshad identified two of the dead as Al Harthy and Gurung. By Sunday, the ACP announced that Purja's body had been located at approximately 5,700 meters on Broad Peak. Three additional bodies were sighted nearby, later identified as Wang Zhong, Nima Sherpa, and Kili Pemba Sherpa.
The ground rescue team was working to bring the bodies down to the Japanese camp and then to Camp 1, according to the ACP. Rescuers also confirmed the presence of one additional body at a higher elevation, but recovery attempts were deemed unlikely due to hazardous terrain and prevailing conditions.
Efforts to recover the remaining bodies continued amid challenging weather. Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Advocate directed all relevant departments to remain on high alert and expedite the search and rescue operation, as reported by Dawn. Two Pakistan Army Aviation rescue helicopters were dispatched to support the operation, carrying rescue personnel and specialized equipment.
In Kathmandu, hundreds of Nepalis held a candlelight vigil on Tuesday to honor the climbers. Buddhist monks chanted prayers, and around 500 mourners lit candles in a square in the Nepali capital. Tul Singh Gurung, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, said, "Nepal has lost a generation of accomplished mountaineers."
In Pakistan, funeral prayers were offered for Sohail Sakhi in his hometown of Aliabad in Hunza.
Purja, 43, was a celebrated figure in mountaineering. In 2019, he scaled the world's 14 highest peaks in just over six months, shattering the previous record of seven years. His feat was later documented in a Netflix film. He was also part of the historic all-Nepali team that made the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan expressed solidarity with the climbers' families and the international mountaineering community, urging the public to await official updates before sharing unverified details.