KATHMANDU, July 31: Four bodies have been recovered during the search for missing mountaineers following an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak. The identities of two of the deceased have been confirmed.
President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) Major General Irfan Arshad told Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper that the two identified climbers were Oman’s Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy and Nepal’s Pur Bahadur Gurung.
Four bodies located after 10 climbers go missing on Pakistan's...
According to the ACP, 10 mountaineers, including renowned Nepali climber Nirmal Purja and Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, went missing after the avalanche. Among the missing climbers are six Nepalis, one Pakistani, one Omani, one American, and one Chinese national.
The missing Nepali climbers are Purja, Pur Bahadur Gurung, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa, and Gyalu Sherpa. The other missing climbers are Oman’s Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, Pakistan’s Sohail Sakhi, Wang Zhong of China, and Mallory Geis of the United States.
To support the rescue operation, the Pakistani Army Aviation Corps has dispatched two rescue helicopters, rescue personnel, and additional specialized equipment to the site. According to the club, if weather and operational conditions allow, the search and rescue operation will be intensified with helicopter support and all available resources.
ACP General Secretary Ayaz Shigri said that several mountaineering teams had started a joint summit expedition before the avalanche struck. He said GPS locations received from the climbers indicated that the avalanche swept them approximately 1,000 meters downhill. “We are all praying for the safety of the mountaineers. This is a great calamity,” Shigri said.
Meanwhile, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain has directed all concerned departments to remain on high alert, cooperate with the Pakistani Army, and intensify search efforts. The provincial government has said it is making every possible effort to locate and safely rescue the missing climbers.
