KATHMANDU, July 31: Celebrity mountaineer and former Royal Marine Nirmal Purja is among 10 climbers feared missing after an avalanche struck Pakistan's Broad Peak, one of the world's highest mountains, BBC reported.
According to the report, the avalanche hit the 8,047-meter (26,400-foot) peak in the Karakoram range around midday on Thursday. Pakistani mountaineering officials said there has been no communication with the team since the incident, raising fears for the climbers' safety.
The expedition comprises an American, a Chinese national, an Omani, and five Nepali climbers, in addition to Purja, who is leading the team.
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Search and rescue efforts are underway, with officials hoping to deploy a helicopter as soon as weather conditions permit.
Broad Peak, the world's 12th-highest mountain, is widely regarded as one of the most technically challenging peaks for mountaineering expeditions.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said it has remained in constant contact with government authorities to launch an immediate search and rescue operation. The club added that every possible effort is being made to secure helicopter support and mobilize all available resources as quickly as possible.
"The Club prays for the safety and successful rescue of all the climbers and stands in solidarity with their families and the international mountaineering community during this difficult time," the Alpine Club said in a statement.
Purja, who joined the British Army in 2003 and became a Royal Marine in 2009, gained global recognition after climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in just over six months in 2019. His mountaineering journey began in 2012 when he trekked to Everest Base Camp and decided to climb Mount Everest instead of returning as originally planned, the report said.
