Veteran climber Nirmal Purja and nine others are missing after an avalanche hit Broad Peak in Pakistan on Thursday. Rescue efforts are currently struggling due to severe weather conditions at the 7,000-meter mark. The government of Nepal is in contact with Pakistani authorities to coordinate the search and rescue operations for the group.
Renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, famous for his record-setting climbing achievements, has been reported missing following a massive avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak. The incident occurred on Thursday morning at an altitude of approximately 7,000 meters. The group, which includes five Nepali climbers and five foreign nationals from countries including the United States, China, Oman, and Pakistan, was navigating the 8,051-meter mountain when the avalanche struck.
Challenges in Rescue Operations
The Alpine Club of Pakistan is currently leading the coordination of search efforts alongside local government agencies. However, the high-altitude environment and ongoing adverse weather conditions are significantly complicating the mission. Helicopter support, which is critical for accessing such remote and treacherous terrain, has been severely restricted due to the extreme weather patterns that often affect the Karakoram range during the summer climbing season. This period, spanning from June to August, is historically prone to sudden avalanches and rapid shifts in climate.
Official Response and Coordination
Nepal's Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Khadak Prasad Paudel, stated that the Nepalese government is maintaining continuous communication with Pakistani authorities to monitor the situation. Officials are prioritizing the mobilization of ground teams and are attempting to secure aviation support as soon as the weather stabilizes. As of now, the search operations remain focused on locating the group in the area where they were last confirmed to be climbing.
Broad Peak is recognized globally as the 12th-highest mountain in the world and is located in the Karakoram range, in close proximity to K2. The mountain is known for its technical difficulty and high risk of natural hazards, which have historically posed major challenges for even the most experienced mountaineers. The next major update will depend on whether weather conditions improve enough to allow rescue teams to access the higher camps or conduct aerial surveys of the avalanche site.