Bodies of Nirmal Purja and Four Other Climbers Airlifted to Skardu After Broad Peak Avalanche

The bodies of five international climbers, including renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, have been airlifted to Skardu after they were killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said on Thursday.

The avalanche struck on July 30, cutting off contact with the 10-member international expedition led by 43-year-old Purja on Broad Peak, one of the world's highest mountains. His company confirmed there were no survivors.

"Following one of the most technically demanding recovery operations on Broad Peak, the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirms that the bodies of Nirmal Purja, Wang Zhong, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Killi Pemba "Kilu" Sherpa have been transported to Skardu CMH Hospital by helicopter," ACP said in its statement on Thursday.

"Following necessary procedures and documentation, they will be transferred to Islamabad," it said, adding that they have been prepared for repatriation to their respective home countries under special arrangements.

ACP Secretary General Ayaz Shigri told Dawn that so far, seven bodies have been recovered and airlifted to Skardu. The search operation continues for the eighth day as Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi and American Sarah Mallory Geis remain missing.

Shigri said remains believed to belong to Geis had been airlifted on Saturday along with bodies of two other climbers, but her body has still not been found.

The body of Nawang Thindu Sherpa was spotted but could not be recovered due to its location in a high-altitude, avalanche-prone area, Naila Kiani of the ACP told Dawn.

A Pakistan Army helicopter on Thursday brought the five bodies to Skardu, where they were received by ACP, Baltistan Commissioner Kamal Khan, army officers, civil administration officials, the tourism department, the district administration and local representatives.

The participants paid tribute to the deceased climbers, acknowledged their contributions and expressed their condolences to the bereaved families.

Coverage Comparison

Dawn's reporting on the incident has evolved as recovery efforts progressed. An earlier report noted that a search team had transported the bodies of Purja and three team members to the base camp of the mountain, with the ACP confirming the recovery in a social media post. That report also mentioned that the remains of three other team members—an American woman, an Omani woman, and a Nepali man—had already been flown off the mountain to Skardu.

A later Dawn report detailed the airlift of five bodies to Skardu, including Purja's, and cited ACP Secretary General Ayaz Shigri as saying that seven bodies had been recovered so far. The two reports also differ in the number of missing climbers: the earlier report said three climbers remained missing, while the later report specified that Sohail Sakhi and Sarah Mallory Geis were still unaccounted for, with the search ongoing.

Key Claims

  • A 10-member international expedition led by Nirmal Purja was caught in an avalanche on Broad Peak on July 30.
  • There were no survivors from the expedition, as confirmed by Purja's company.
  • The bodies of Purja and three team members were initially transported to base camp, and later five bodies were airlifted to Skardu.
  • ACP Secretary General Ayaz Shigri reported that seven bodies have been recovered and airlifted to Skardu, with the search continuing for an eighth day.
  • Remains believed to belong to American climber Sarah Mallory Geis were airlifted on Saturday, but her body has not yet been found.
  • Funeral prayers were offered in absentia for Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi in his hometown of Aliabad in Hunza.
  • Broad Peak is the world's 12th highest mountain.

Perspectives

The Alpine Club of Pakistan has provided official statements confirming the recovery and airlift of bodies, emphasizing the technical difficulty of the operation and the club's commitment to supporting recovery efforts. The club's president, Major General (retd.) I, expressed the organization's dedication to returning the deceased to their families.

Ayaz Shigri, ACP Secretary General, provided updates on the number of bodies recovered and the ongoing search for missing climbers, while Naila Kiani of the ACP offered details about the recovery challenges.

Tul Singh Gurung, President of Nepal's National Mountain Guide Association, commented on the loss, saying they had "lost a generation of accomplished mountaineers," reflecting the grief within the alpine community.

Local tributes, such as the funeral prayers for Sohail Sakhi in Hunza, show the impact of the tragedy on the climbers' home communities.