SKARDU: Ten members of an international mountaineering expedition, including renowned Nepali climber Nirmal “Nims” Purja, have been reported missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range, according to local authorities and mountaineering sources.
بریکنگ اپڈیٹ
پاکستان کے قراقرم سلسلے میں واقع براڈ پیک پر کیمپ 2 اور کیمپ 3 کے درمیان تقریباً 6,600 میٹر کی بلندی پر برفانی تودہ (Avalanche) گرنے کے بعد ایک انتہائی تشویشناک صورتحال پیدا ہو گئی ہے۔
ابتدائی اطلاعات کے مطابق براڈ پیک پر برفانی تودہ گرنے کے بعد تاحال درج ذیل 10 کوہ… https://t.co/b2gq1DUYrS pic.twitter.com/nAOEigvc98— Shahid Hussain (@ShahidHussainJM) July 31, 2026
The avalanche occurred between Camp II and Camp III at an altitude of around 6,600 metres on the 8,047-metre peak. Initial reports said contact with the climbers was lost at approximately 9:30am on Thursday.
The missing climbers have been identified as Nirmal “Nims” Purja, Pur Bahadur Gurung, Kelly Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thundu Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa, all from Nepal; Nadheera Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy from Oman; Sohail Sakhi from Pakistan; Mallory Gass from the United States; and Wang Zhong from China.
Officials said efforts were being made to launch a search and rescue operation using helicopters and other available resources. They added that the operation would be carried out subject to weather conditions and operational feasibility in the high-altitude region.
According to mountaineering sources, weather conditions remain generally clear, but strong winds are prevailing at higher elevations, posing significant challenges for rescue teams.
They also noted that no other climbing expedition is currently on Broad Peak, while only one team is stationed at Camp III on neighbouring K2, limiting the possibility of an immediate response from nearby climbers.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the fate of the missing climbers. If confirmed, the incident would be among the most serious mountaineering accidents reported in the Karakoram range in recent years.
