Nirmal Purja among 10 missing after avalanche on Broad peak

KATHMANDU: Five Nepali climbers, including renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, are among 10 climbers reported missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak (8,047m) in Pakistan on Thursday, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP).

In a statement posted on Instagram, the ACP said the expedition team consisted of 10 climbers, including five Nepali mountaineers led by Purja. The group also included one Pakistani climber, Sohail Sakhi from Hunza, an Omani climber Nathira, American climber Mallory Geis, a Chinese climber identified as Mr. Wang, and one other foreign national.

“The entire team has reportedly been out of communication since the avalanche,” the ACP said. “Every possible effort is being made to ensure that helicopter support and all available rescue resources are mobilized at the earliest opportunity.”

Broad Peak, the world’s 12th highest mountain, is located in the Karakoram range and is considered one of the more technically demanding 8,000-metre peaks.

Purja, one of Nepal’s most celebrated climbers, had not initially planned to summit Broad Peak this season. He said in a post on X on July 27 that his original objective was to climb Gasherbrum II (G2). However, he decided to attempt Broad Peak after realizing it would bring him closer to a historic milestone.

“If I tick off Broad Peak whilst I’m here, only one remains—Cho Oyu. Then I become the first person in history to climb all 14 eight-thousanders twice, without oxygen,” Purja wrote.

Purja had successfully climbed Gasherbrum II on July 24 for his 57th 8,000-meter summit.