Ten climbers led by Nirmal Purja feared missing after Broad Peak avalanche
Ten international climbers led by Nirmal Purja are feared missing after an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak; authorities are working to arrange a helicopter rescue.
A team of ten international climbers led by Nirmal Purja, a Nepal-born former Royal Marine renowned for his mountaineering feats, is feared to have gone missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan. Pakistani mountaineering officials said the avalanche hit around midday on Thursday on the 8,047-metre peak in the Karakoram range. There has been no communication with the team since then.
According to officials, the group includes an American, a Chinese national, an Omani and five Nepalis. Purja, who leads the expedition, became widely known in 2019 when he climbed all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in just over six months.
Karrar Haidri, vice-president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, told the BBC that the club is coordinating with authorities and trying to arrange a helicopter rescue for Friday morning Pakistani time, depending on weather conditions.
Broad Peak is considered one of the more challenging mountains for expeditions and is the world's 12th highest peak. In a separate statement, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said it has been in constant contact with authorities to ensure all available resources are mobilised at the earliest opportunity. The club said it prays for the safety and successful rescue of all climbers and stands in solidarity with their families and the international mountaineering community during this difficult time.
Purja joined the British Army in 2003 and became a Royal Marine in 2009. His climbing career began when he walked to Everest base camp in 2012 and, instead of returning as planned, decided to climb the entire mountain.
