Broad Peak avalanche: Nirmal Purja among six missing as four bodies recovered

A summit push on Pakistan's Broad Peak ended in disaster after an avalanche swept away 10 climbers. The search for the missing, including Nirmal Purja, has become a difficult multinational rescue in bad weather.Stock photo used for illustrationVeteran British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja was among six climbers missing after an avalanche hit an expedition on Pakistan's Broad Peak, where rescuers recovered four bodies and continued search operations despite bad weather on Friday.The avalanche struck at an altitude of around 7,000 metres on Thursday, sweeping away a 10-member team that had begun its summit push, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP). Officials said the climbers went missing at around 9 am, and that poor weather and the difficult mountain terrain had severely affected rescue efforts.Broad Peak, at 8,051 metres in the Karakoram range near K2, is the world's 12th-highest mountain and is considered one of the most difficult peaks to climb. The team included six climbers from Nepal, one each from Pakistan, Oman, the United States and China.ACP President Major General Irfan Arshad said four bodies were recovered during the rescue operation on Friday. 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 are yet to be officially confirmed. Two Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters were involved in the search and rescue operation. The six Nepali climbers on the expedition were Purja, Gurung, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa. The other climbers were Sohail Sakhi of Pakistan, Wang Zhong of China, Mallory Geis of the United States and Al Harthy of Oman.Nepal's Foreign Ministry said it was closely monitoring the situation, and that the Nepali Embassy in Islamabad was coordinating with local authorities, including the ACP, to support the swift and safe search for all climbers affected by the avalanche. It said Pakistani authorities had assured Nepal that all available resources would be mobilised for the operation. Earlier on Friday, Nepal's Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Minister Khadak Prasad Paudel said the government was in regular contact with the Pakistani authorities. In a post on X, the UK Embassy in Pakistan said: "We are concerned by reports that several climbers have gone missing during a Broad Peak expedition, including a British-Nepali national. We are in contact with the Pakistani authorities and are grateful to them and the Pakistani military for their search and rescue efforts." The ACP said GPS coordinates received from some of the missing climbers showed the avalanche had swept the group nearly 1,000 metres downhill, leaving them trapped. It also said some local high-altitude porters might have been caught in the avalanche.Purja, 43, known as 'Nims Dai', is regarded as one of the world's leading high-altitude mountaineers. A former member of Britain's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Royal Marines' Special Boat Service, he set several climbing records after becoming a full-time mountaineer and expedition guide. In 2019, he climbed all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in six months and six days under his 'Project Possible' expedition. In 2021, he was part of the 10-member Nepali team that made the first successful winter ascent of K2.Ang Tshering Sherpa, former president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, described Purja as "one of the best climbers" in the world. "He has climbed eight thousanders for most of the time," he said. Purja was born on July 25, 1983, in Myagdi district of Gandaki Province and was raised in Chitwan. He had a 16-year military career, spending six years as a Gurkha and 10 years with the UK Special Forces. According to the UK's Gurkha Museum, he was the first Gurkha to join the Special Boat Service, and his interest in mountaineering grew during his service, including after a 2012 trek to Everest Base Camp.After leaving the army, Purja began a record-breaking climbing career. In March 2020, he launched 'Nimsdai', aimed at sharing his knowledge and approach to big mountain climbing. Through the Nimsdai Foundation and Elite Himalayan Adventures, he also contributed USD 5,000 for food parcels for Sherpa communities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown in 2020. He wrote the book 'Beyond Possible: One Soldier, Fourteen Peaks - My Life in the Death Zone' and also featured in the 2021 Netflix documentary '14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible'.Search operations were continuing on Friday as rescuers tried to trace the missing climbers on Broad Peak, with bad weather slowing efforts on a mountain where avalanches and unpredictable conditions are common during Pakistan's June-to-August climbing season.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 31, 2026 20:58 IST