Broad Peak avalanche: Four bodies found, Nirmal Purja among six missing

An avalanche on Broad Peak swept away a 10-member climbing team during its summit push. The disaster has triggered a multinational rescue effort and renewed fears over extreme high-altitude risks.Four bodies were recovered on Friday while search operations continued for six other climbers, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan, officials said. The avalanche hit the mountain at an altitude of around 7,000 metres on Thursday and swept away a 10-member climbing team that had started its summit push.Two Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters were involved in the search and rescue effort, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP). The club said GPS coordinates received from some of the missing climbers suggested the avalanche had dragged the group nearly 1,000 metres downhill, leaving them trapped.Broad Peak, which stands at 8,051 metres, is in Pakistan's Karakoram range near K2. It is the world's 12th-highest mountain and is regarded as one of the most difficult peaks to climb. The ACP said the climbers went missing at around 9 am local time after the avalanche.The missing climbers were six from Nepal, one from Pakistan, one from Oman, one from the United States and one from China. The Nepalese climbers were identified as Nirmal Purja, Pur Bahadur Gurung, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa. The others were Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman, Sohail Sakhi of Pakistan, Wang Zhong of China and Mallory Geis of the United States. Earlier, it was reported that the team included five climbers from Nepal, including Purja, and that the nationality of one mountaineer was not immediately known. ACP President Major General Irfan Arshad said four bodies had been recovered. He identified two of the dead as Oman's Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy and Nepal's Pur Bahadur Gurung. The identities of the other two bodies were yet to be officially confirmed.The ACP said, "The club's senior leadership remains in constant contact with the highest government authorities and relevant agencies to facilitate the rescue operation. Every possible effort is being made to ensure that helicopter support and all available rescue resources are mobilised at the earliest opportunity, subject to weather and operational conditions." The club also said it was concerned that some local high-altitude porters might have been caught in the avalanche. Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Advocate directed all relevant departments to remain on high alert and speed up the rescue effort in coordination with the Pakistan Army. Purja, 43, is one of Nepal's best-known mountaineers. A former member of Britain's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Royal Marines' elite Special Boat Service, he has set several mountaineering records since becoming a full-time climber and expedition guide. In 2019, he climbed all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in just over six months under his Project Possible expedition, and in 2021 he was part of the team of 10 Nepali climbers that made the first successful winter ascent of K2. The search for the remaining six missing climbers was still under way on Friday after the avalanche on Broad Peak.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 31, 2026 14:30 IST