SKARDU (Web Desk) – The bodies of celebrated British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja and three members of his expedition have been recovered from Broad Peak after an extensive high-altitude rescue operation, while search efforts continue for three climbers who remain missing following a devastating avalanche in Pakistan’s Karakoram range.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed that the recovery mission successfully transported the bodies of Purja, Chinese climber Zhong Wang, and Nepali climbers Nima Sherpa and Kilu Sherpa to Broad Peak Base Camp after several days of difficult operations under extreme mountain conditions.
The avalanche struck on July 30 while the international expedition was attempting an ascent of Broad Peak, one of the world’s highest and most technically demanding mountains.
Communication with the 10-member climbing team was lost immediately after the avalanche, prompting an intensive search and rescue effort involving experienced mountaineers, local high-altitude porters and aviation support whenever weather conditions permitted.
Purja’s expedition company later confirmed that there were no survivors from the section of the team directly caught in the avalanche.
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According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, the recovery mission faced exceptionally challenging terrain, unstable snow conditions and difficult weather throughout the operation.
Despite those obstacles, rescue teams managed to reach the accident site and carefully recover four bodies before transporting them to the base camp.
The Alpine Club expressed condolences to the families of the deceased climbers and praised everyone involved in the difficult recovery effort.
Officials said the remains of the recovered climbers will now be returned to their families for final rites.
Three other members of the expedition had already been recovered earlier and transported by helicopter from the mountain to Skardu.
Those victims included an American woman, an Omani woman and a Nepali climber whose bodies were flown from the mountain after weather conditions briefly improved.
However, three members of the expedition remain missing.
According to the Alpine Club, the missing climbers include two Nepali nationals and one Pakistani team member.
Officials said recovery efforts will continue whenever weather and mountain conditions make further operations possible.
The Alpine Club stated that it remains committed to supporting all future search missions in the hope of recovering the remaining climbers and returning them to their families.
The tragedy has deeply affected the international mountaineering community, with tributes pouring in from climbers, adventure organizations and alpine associations around the world.
Nepal’s National Mountain Guide Association described the deaths as a tremendous loss for global mountaineering.
Association President Tul Singh Gurung said the climbing community had lost a generation of highly accomplished mountaineers whose contributions inspired thousands of young climbers worldwide.
Nirmal Purja was widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest high-altitude climbers.
He gained international recognition after completing the ascent of all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres in a record-breaking time, an achievement that transformed modern mountaineering and earned global admiration.
His accomplishments, documentaries and motivational work inspired climbers across the world to pursue ambitious mountaineering goals.
Broad Peak, standing at 8,051 metres, is the world’s 12th-highest mountain and is located in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range near K2.
Although considered less famous than neighboring K2, Broad Peak is recognized among climbers as one of the most technically demanding mountains due to steep slopes, unpredictable weather and constant avalanche risks.
Pakistan’s northern mountains attract hundreds of international climbers every year during the summer climbing season.
However, sudden weather changes, avalanches, crevasses and high-altitude conditions continue to pose serious risks even to the world’s most experienced mountaineers.
Authorities said they will continue monitoring weather conditions before deciding on further recovery operations for the remaining missing climbers.
The recovery of Nirmal Purja and three of his teammates marks an important step in bringing closure to grieving families, while the search for the remaining climbers continues amid the harsh conditions of one of the world’s most challenging mountain environments.
