Pakistan update: search team transported bodies renowned climber Nirmal Purja
A search team has transported the bodies of renowned climber Nirmal Purja and three of his team members to the base camp of the mountain where they were killed in an avalanche, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said on Wednesday. The avalan
The Alpine Club of Pakistan says a recovery team has brought the body of renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja and three of his team members to Broad Peak base camp after the avalanche that struck the mountain on July 30.
The update marks a major step in the difficult recovery operation on one of the world’s highest peaks. According to the club, the bodies of Purja, Chinese climber Zhong Wang, and Nepali climbers Nima Sherpa and Kilu Sherpa were successfully recovered and transported to base camp.
Purja, a 43-year-old British-Nepali climber, was leading a 10-member international expedition when contact was lost after the avalanche. His company later confirmed that there were no survivors. The incident has drawn widespread attention across the climbing community because of Purja’s global profile and the scale of the expedition involved.
In a statement shared on social media, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said the operation had been exceptionally challenging and technically demanding. It added that three climbers remain missing and that efforts to locate and recover them will continue when conditions allow.
The club also said the remains of three other members of the expedition, an American woman, an Omani woman and a Nepali man, had already been flown from the mountain to Skardu. The bodies of Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi of Hunza and two Nepali nationals have not yet been recovered.
The tragedy has also resonated in Pakistan’s climbing community. Funeral prayers in absentia were offered for Sakhi in Aliabad, Hunza, where hundreds of people gathered on Monday to pay tribute and offer condolences to his family, according to the report.
Broad Peak, in Gilgit-Baltistan, is among the tallest mountains in the world and is known for harsh weather and demanding climbing conditions. Recovery work on such peaks is often limited by altitude, terrain and rapidly changing conditions.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said it remains committed to supporting all possible efforts to bring the missing climbers home when it becomes safe to do so.
What happened on Broad Peak?
An avalanche struck the mountain on July 30 and cut off communication with a 10-member international team led by Nirmal Purja.
What has been recovered so far?
The bodies of four climbers have now been brought to base camp, while three others were earlier flown to Skardu. Three members of the expedition remain unaccounted for.
Why the Broad Peak recovery is significant
The operation underscores the risks faced by climbers on Pakistan’s highest mountains and the difficulty of recovery efforts after major accidents at extreme altitude.
FAQ
What did the Alpine Club of Pakistan say?
It said the bodies of Nirmal Purja, Zhong Wang, Nima Sherpa and Kilu Sherpa had been recovered and taken to base camp.
Are all members of the expedition accounted for?
No. The club said three climbers remain missing.
Where is Broad Peak?
Broad Peak is in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region.
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