KATHMANDU, July 31: Four bodies have been recovered from the avalanche that struck Pakistan's Broad Peak, but their identities have yet to be confirmed, leaving the fate of six missing Nepali climbers, including renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, uncertain.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadakraj (Ganesh) Paudel confirmed the recovery through a social media post on Friday, saying the government is closely monitoring the situation and remains in regular contact with Pakistani authorities.
Broad Peak avalanche: Six including Nirmal Purja still missing;...
"The identities of the recovered bodies have not yet been confirmed. We are receiving continuous updates on the incident," Paudel said.
The avalanche hit the 8,047-meter Broad Peak in Pakistan's Karakoram range, leaving 10 climbers missing. The missing include six Nepalis—Nirmal Purja "Nims Dai", Pur Bahadur Gurung "Yukta", Kili Pemba Sherpa "Kilu", Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa—as well as Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman, Sohail Sakhi of Pakistan, Wang Zhong of China and Mallory Geis of the United States.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Nepal's mountaineering community, particularly because of Purja's global reputation for his record-breaking high-altitude achievements.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing despite difficult conditions, with two Pakistani military helicopters and specialized rescue teams deployed in the operation.
