Search and rescue teams continued operations on Sunday for climbers caught in Thursday’s avalanche on Pakistan’s 8,051-metre Broad Peak, but rescuers have not yet reached bodies reportedly spotted by a drone, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said.

Speaking to Kantipur on Sunday morning, Irfan Arshad Khan, president of the Alpine Club, said rescue teams had been deployed from early morning.

“Our rescue teams have been mobilised since this morning,” he said.

Elite Exped has confirmed the death of its founder and world-renowned Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, widely known as Nimsdai. However, Khan said authorities would release details about other missing climbers only after official confirmation.

“Our first priority is to respect the missing climbers and their families. We will make information public only after official confirmation,” he said.

The Commissioner of Baltistan said rescue teams recovered three bodies during Friday’s operation before worsening weather conditions forced them to suspend the search.

The recovered climbers were identified as Pur Bahadur Gurung of Nepal, Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman and Sarah Mallory of the United States.

The bodies were airlifted by Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters to the Combined Military Hospital, where legal procedures and identification formalities were underway.

A three-member civilian rescue team led by veteran mountaineer Sirbaz Khan recovered the bodies from Camp II.

According to Khan, the area where the drone reportedly spotted bodies remains highly dangerous due to the continued risk of avalanches.

“Rescue teams have not yet reached the location where the bodies are believed to have been spotted by the drone. The area is extremely vulnerable to avalanches,” he said.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan is the country’s national body responsible for mountaineering and climbing activities. Established in 1974, it coordinates expeditions, oversees safety and rescue operations, helps formulate mountaineering policies and represents Pakistan in international climbing organisations, including the International Federation for Climbing and Mountaineering.

During major mountain accidents such as the Broad Peak avalanche, the club works with local authorities, the Gilgit-Baltistan government, the Pakistan Army, rescue teams, liaison officers and expedition operators.

Ten climbers, including internationally renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, were caught in the avalanche on Broad Peak on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Nepali climber, lawmaker and Nimsdai’s business partner Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, also known as Mingma David, who is currently in Skardu, Pakistan, shared updates from the ground team on Sunday.

According to Mingma, rescue teams planned to bring the recovered bodies down to Camp 1 on Sunday. They will then be transported to the Japanese Camp at the base of Broad Peak on Monday.

If weather and mountain conditions remain favourable, the bodies could be airlifted by helicopter from the Japanese Camp.

“The main objective of this operation is to safely recover the bodies of our departed friends and bring them home with dignity,” Mingma said in a Facebook post.

He said the safety of the rescue teams remained the top priority.

“The safety of everyone involved in the rescue operation is our greatest priority. Every decision is being taken with the safety of the team at the forefront,” he said.

Mingma also thanked the governments of Nepal and Pakistan, the Nepali Embassy in Pakistan, the Pakistani Embassy in Nepal, the Pakistan Army, the Alpine Club of Pakistan, and the families, friends and supporters of those affected for their support in the rescue operation.

The avalanche struck at around 8 pm local time on Thursday as the 10-member international expedition was climbing between Camp II and Camp III at an altitude of about 6,600 metres. The team had last been in contact with its tour operator at 9 am that day.

The expedition comprised climbers from Nepal, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, the United States, China and Oman.