GILGIT-BALTISTAN: The death toll from the avalanche that struck an international mountaineering expedition on Broad Peak has risen after rescuers recovered four bodies during an ongoing search operation, officials said on Friday.
The avalanche hit the 10-member climbing team between Camp II and Camp III, at an altitude of around 6,600 metres, as the climbers were making their summit push on the 8,047-metre peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram range.
Authorities identified two of the deceased as Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy and Nepali mountaineer Pur Bahadur Gurung. The identities of the other two recovered bodies have not yet been officially confirmed.
Renowned Nepali climber Nirmal “Nims” Purja and Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi remain among those missing, along with other members of the expedition.
Search and rescue operations continued on Friday with the assistance of Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters, rescue personnel and specialised equipment. Officials said the operation was being carried out despite difficult weather and the challenges posed by the high-altitude terrain.
The Gilgit-Baltistan government and the Alpine Club of Pakistan said every available resource was being utilised to locate the remaining climbers, while cautioning that rescue efforts were dependent on weather and operational conditions.
The avalanche is among the most serious mountaineering accidents reported in Pakistan’s Karakoram region in recent years. Authorities have yet to confirm the fate of the climbers who remain unaccounted for.
Ten climbers including Nims Purja reported missing at Broad Peak
