Search operations for seven missing climbers, including celebrated Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, have been temporarily suspended after severe weather made rescue efforts impossible on Pakistan’s Broad Peak. The avalanche, which struck the expedition on Thursday, has already claimed at least three lives.
Rescue mission paused after worsening weather
Pakistani rescue teams halted operations on Friday as poor visibility, snowfall and dangerous mountain conditions prevented helicopters and ground teams from continuing the search.
Also Read | From Anantnag to Kulgam: Jammu and Kashmir sees 2 terror attacks, 3 dead in 10 days
Authorities said rescue efforts would resume once weather conditions improve.
Three climbers confirmed dead
Rescuers have recovered the bodies of three members of the 10-person expedition. They have been identified as:
Sarah Mallory
Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman
Pur Bahadur Gurung of Nepal
The bodies were retrieved by a three-member rescue team led by veteran Pakistani climber Sarbaz Khan and later transported by Pakistan Army helicopters.
Nirmal Purja among seven still missing
The expedition, led by world-renowned climber Nirmal Purja, included mountaineers from Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, the United States and China.
Officials said the climbers were attempting to summit the 8,051-metre Broad Peak when an avalanche swept through the route at an altitude of around 7,000 metres. Contact with the team was lost shortly afterwards.
Also Read | Meta says it is ‘cooperating’ after FIR against India head over PM Modi posts
Their last known position was around 6,600 metres, and authorities believe they may have fallen nearly 1,000 metres down the mountain following the avalanche.
According to officials, six of the seven climbers still missing are Nepali nationals, including three Sherpas.
Broad Peak remains one of the world’s most dangerous climbs
Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain, rises above 8,000 metres in Pakistan’s Karakoram range near K2. Although climbers typically attempt the summit during the summer season, the mountain is notorious for sudden weather changes, steep terrain and frequent avalanches.
Among those killed, Nadhira Al Harthy made history as the first Omani woman to summit Mount Everest and had also climbed K2 and Manaslu. Veteran Nepali climber Pur Bahadur Gurung had successfully scaled 28 mountains above 8,000 metres, while Sarah Mallory was attempting her first expedition on an 8,000-metre peak.
Rescue authorities remain on standby and hope to restart search operations as soon as weather conditions become safe.
FAQs
Why was the search for Nirmal Purja suspended?
Search operations were halted because severe weather, poor visibility and dangerous mountain conditions made rescue efforts unsafe. Authorities plan to resume the mission once conditions improve.
How many climbers are still missing on Broad Peak?
Seven climbers, including expedition leader Nirmal Purja, remain missing after the avalanche. Three climbers have been confirmed dead.