Helicopters remain on standby in Skardu, waiting for weather conditions to improve before they can take off. Photo: @nimsdai
Broad Peak avalanche in Pakistan: Four bodies found, six climbers still missing
Four bodies have been recovered after an avalanche hit Broad Peak in Pakistan. Rescue teams continue searching for six missing international climbers
Rescuers searching for 10 international climbers missing after a major avalanche struck Pakistan's Broad Peak on Thursday (July 30) have located four bodies, officials said on Friday (July 31), while efforts continue to find the remaining six.
The avalanche struck between Camp 2 and Camp 3 during a summit attempt on the 8,047-metre peak in Pakistan's Karakoram range. Since then, there has been no contact with the expedition, led by renowned Nepal-born mountaineer Nirmal "Nimsdai" Purja.
Senior Pakistani government officials said efforts were underway to recover the bodies despite harsh weather but did not identify those found.
“The team has been out of communication since Thursday,” said Karrar Haidri, vice president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, who said army helicopters had joined the search-and-rescue operation and authorities were in contact with the families of the missing climbers.
Bodies recovered
Earlier on Friday, the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed the deaths of Omani climber Nadhira Al Harthy and Nepali climber Pur Bahadur Gurung "Yukta".
"Nadhira's body has been recovered and is being transported by helicopter to Skardu. Arrangements for Yukta's transport are underway," the club said in a statement on Friday as quoted by NDTV.
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"Search and rescue operations continue for those still missing. Our thoughts remain with all the families and the global mountaineering community during this difficult time," It added.
According to the Alpine Club, the expedition included five Nepali climbers, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi from Hunza, Omani climber Nathira, American climber Mallory Geis, a Chinese climber identified only as Wang, and another foreign climber.
Purja's record bid
Purja, a former British Army soldier, rose to global prominence after climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in a record 189 days in 2019, a feat featured in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible. This expedition was expected to move him closer to becoming the first climber to complete all 8,000-metre peaks three times.
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According to local media reports, movement was detected on Purja's tracking device after the avalanche, raising hopes among rescuers.
Speaking to NDTV, Purja's friend Parth Upadhayay said, "If anyone can survive this, it is Nimsdai. He is a fighter. After seeing the movement on the tracker device, it gives us hope, and we are praying for good news and all mountaineers who are affected in the avalanche."
Search continues
Broad Peak, the world's 12th-highest mountain, rises to 8,047 metres and lies about eight kilometres from K2. Avalanches and rapidly changing weather make climbing expeditions in northern Pakistan particularly hazardous.
(With agency inputs)