Three climbers have been recovered and officially identified following the deadly avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, while renowned Nepal-born mountaineer Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja and other members of the international expedition remain missing.
The recovered climbers have been identified as Nepali mountain guide Pur Bahadur Gurung, Omani mountaineer Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, and American climber Sarah Mallory Geis. Their bodies were transported from the mountain for formal procedures, according to officials in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region.
A fourth body has reportedly been located but had not been recovered at the time of the latest confirmed update. Drone footage has also shown additional figures or possible bodies in the avalanche zone, but rescuers have stressed that their identities and condition cannot be established until ground teams physically reach them.
Search operation continues in severe conditions
The rescue mission is being carried out with the support of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters, local authorities, high-altitude porters and experienced Nepali and Pakistani mountaineers.
The operation has faced repeated delays because of poor visibility, unstable snow, strong winds and the extreme altitude of the search area.
Broad Peak rises to approximately 8,047 metres in Pakistan’s Karakoram range, close to K2. The avalanche reportedly struck the climbers between Camp II and Camp III at an altitude of roughly 6,500 to 6,700 metres.
Tracking information suggested that members of the expedition were swept hundreds of metres down the mountain. However, rescuers have warned against using tracker signals or aerial images as proof that any particular climber is alive or dead.
Mingma Gyalje Sherpa involved in rescue efforts
Renowned Nepali mountaineer Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, widely known as Mingma G, has been involved in the wider high-altitude response alongside Pakistani rescue authorities and mountaineering organisations.
Mingma G is an internationally certified mountain guide and one of Nepal’s most experienced expedition leaders, with successful ascents of Everest, K2, Broad Peak and the other major 8,000-metre mountains.
However, available official and major international reports describe the rescue as a coordinated operation led institutionally by Pakistani authorities, the Alpine Club of Pakistan and Pakistan Army Aviation. Claims that any single individual has sole command of the mission should therefore be worded cautiously unless confirmed in an official operational statement.
Mingma G and other rescuers have appealed to the public not to spread unverified claims while teams are still trying to reach those seen in the avalanche area.
K2 teams support the Broad Peak response
Several expedition teams based around nearby K2 have reportedly paused or abandoned summit plans as climbers, guides and high-altitude workers shifted their attention toward the Broad Peak emergency.
The close proximity of K2 and Broad Peak means properly acclimatised climbers and high-altitude porters already in the region can provide valuable manpower, equipment and local knowledge during a rescue.
Specialist reporting said nearby K2 expeditions had been cancelled or suspended to assist the recovery effort. However, the names and exact number of participating teams had not been comprehensively confirmed by Pakistani authorities at the time of publication.
Pakistan and Nepal coordinate rescue efforts
The operation has brought together agencies and mountaineering communities from Pakistan and Nepal.
Pakistan Army helicopters have supported aerial searches and body-recovery operations, while ground teams have attempted to reach locations identified through drones and tracking devices.
Nepal’s government has also remained in contact with Pakistani authorities because several members of the missing expedition are Nepali. Reuters reported that Nepal had been assured that available resources would be used in the operation.
Chinese authorities have also sought information because a Chinese climber was reported to be part of the expedition. The multinational team included climbers from Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, the United States and China.
Nirmal Purja remains missing
Nirmal Purja remains unaccounted for. There has been no verified voice contact, satellite message or physical sighting confirming his condition since the avalanche.
Reports that his tracking device showed movement raised hope among supporters, but tracker movement alone cannot confirm survival. A device may be moved by a climber, avalanche debris, shifting snow or location inaccuracies.
Purja, popularly known as Nimsdai, became globally famous after climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in 189 days in 2019. His achievement was featured in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.
He was leading an Elite Exped team on Broad Peak when the avalanche occurred. Other climbers from separate expeditions were reportedly travelling through the same section of the mountain at the time.
Confusion over early casualty reports
Early reports from local police suggested that four bodies had been found, but the victims were not immediately identified.
A subsequent Alpine Club of Pakistan-linked update said the bodies of Gurung and Al Harthy had been recovered, along with a severed body part belonging to another victim.
More recent reports from Reuters and the Associated Press confirmed that three complete bodies had been recovered and identified Gurung, Al Harthy and Geis, while a fourth body remained located but unrecovered.
This discrepancy reflects the rapidly changing nature of the mountain operation. The latest confirmed recovery figure should therefore be used in the headline and opening paragraphs.
Rescuers urge public to stop speculation
Rescuers and mountaineering officials have repeatedly asked the public not to declare any missing climber dead or rescued until ground teams reach them and authorities formally confirm their condition.
A figure seen through drone footage cannot be reliably identified, while a tracker signal does not establish whether the person carrying the device survived.
Social-media posts claiming that Purja or another missing climber has been found alive, rescued or confirmed dead should not be treated as fact without an announcement from Pakistani authorities, the Alpine Club of Pakistan, expedition organisers or the climbers’ families.
Prayers for Nirmal Purja and the entire team
Our thoughts and prayers remain with Nirmal Purja, the missing climbers, their families and the rescue teams working in dangerous high-altitude conditions.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Pur Bahadur Gurung, Nadhira Al Harthy and Sarah Mallory Geis.
May rescuers safely reach every person located on the mountain, and may the families waiting for news receive strength and clarity during this painful period.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story. Recovery figures, identities and rescue details may change as teams reach the avalanche zone and officials issue further statements.
