A rescue operation is under way on Pakistan’s 8,047-metre Broad Peak after an avalanche struck an international climbing team on Thursday, leaving several climbers, including Nepal-born mountaineer Nirmal Purja, widely known as “Nims Dai”, missing. Four bodies have been recovered so far, according to Irfan Arshad Khan, president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan.

The missing climbers include Purja, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa and Nawang Thindu Sherpa. The group also includes Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, Chinese climber Wang Zhong and American climber Mallory Geis.

What is the latest update on search and rescue efforts?

Search and rescue operations for climbers missing after Thursday’s avalanche on Pakistan’s 8,051-metre Broad Peak resumed on Saturday after poor weather conditions forced rescuers to suspend the mission on Friday, authorities said.

According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, the search operation resumed, with additional Sherpas from other expeditions joining the rescue effort. 

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

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

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

The rescue team said drone footage had identified several more bodies on the mountain, although recovery has not yet been possible due to the difficult conditions.

The rescue mission began on Friday after tour operators formally requested assistance. Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters transported a three-member civilian rescue team, led by veteran mountaineer Sirbaz Khan, to the Broad Peak base camp. The team then proceeded on foot towards Camp II, where the recovered bodies were found.

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.

The Commissioner of Baltistan said the operation was being conducted in extremely challenging terrain and severe high-altitude conditions by the Pakistan Army in coordination with local climbers and rescue teams.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is closely monitoring the situation following the avalanche.

In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, the ministry said the Nepali Embassy in Islamabad is coordinating with the Pakistani authorities, including the Alpine Club of Pakistan, to support the swift and safe search and rescue of all climbers affected by the avalanche.

The ministry added that the Pakistani authorities have assured Nepal they will mobilise all available resources to carry out the search and rescue operation as quickly as possible.

Pakistan mobilised helicopters, drones and ground teams to search for the missing climbers, Nepal’s ambassador to Pakistan Rita Dhital said.

Speaking to Kantipur from Pakistan, Dhital said rescue teams, equipment and helicopters had been deployed from Skardu.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan said it was coordinating with government authorities and other agencies to ensure all available resources were deployed.

“Every possible effort is being made to ensure that helicopter support and all available rescue resources are mobilised at the earliest opportunity, subject to weather and operational conditions,” the club said.

How did the avalanche unfold?

The avalanche struck the climbing team on Broad Peak in the Karakoram mountain range around midday on Thursday, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan.

At 8,047 metres, Broad Peak is the world’s 12th-highest mountain and is considered one of the most challenging peaks for high-altitude expeditions. The mountain lies in Pakistan’s Karakoram range, near K2, the world’s second-highest mountain.

Thaneshwar Guragain, general manager of Seven Summit Treks, said some climbers swept away by the avalanche were brought back to base camp through an overland rescue effort. The bodies were found during that operation.

Poor weather conditions initially prevented helicopter flights, slowing rescue efforts.

What is the status of the climbers?

Two of the dead have so far been identified. The Alpine Club of Pakistan said the bodies of Nepal’s Pur Bahadur Gurung, known as “Yukta”, and Oman’s Nadhira Al Harthy have been recovered.

Al Harthy’s body is being airlifted by helicopter to Skardu, while arrangements are underway to transport Gurung’s remains.

Al Harthy was the first Omani woman to summit Mount Everest.

Who is Nirmal Purja?

Purja, widely known as Nimsdai, became internationally known in 2019 after climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres in just over six months, setting a world record.

Before becoming a professional mountaineer, he served in the British Army and later joined the Royal Marines.

His mountaineering career began after a 2012 trek to Everest Base Camp, when he decided to continue towards the summit of Everest instead of returning as originally planned. He holds multiple world records on high-altitude mountaineering.

This is a developing story and the story will be updated throughout the day.