Search teams deployed drones and military helicopters to locate the multinational expedition, recovering three bodies amid severe weather in the Karakoram range.
The Avalanche on Broad Peak and the Missing Expedition
An avalanche struck Broad Peak—the world’s 12th-highest mountain at 8,051 meters (26,414 feet) in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region—around midday on Thursday, July 30, as reported by Reuters. The multinational group was led by Nirmal Nimsdai
Purja, the celebrated Nepali mountaineer who rose to international fame after setting a record in 2019 by summiting all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in 189 days.
Garmin satellite devices carried by the climbers tracked their ascent before the disaster. Pings showed Purja and Omani climber Nadhira Al-Harthy reaching approximately 6,660 meters (21,850 feet) just before 9 a.m. local time on Thursday. Within 30 minutes, their signals dropped by more than 2,000 feet, plunging deep down the upper slopes after the avalanche hit.
Elite Exped, the expedition organising company, confirmed the fatalities in a social media statement on Saturday.
“Today it is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak.”
Elite Exped, expedition organizing company
Identities of the Climbers and Multinational Team Makeup
The ten-member team comprised climbers from five nations.
Regional officials in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Alpine Club of Pakistan identified three of the initial victims whose bodies were recovered by Friday: American climber Mallory Geis, Nadhira Al-Harthy from Oman, and Pur Bahadur Gurung from Nepal. Geis, 39, lived in San Antonio, Texas, and had recently closed her Pilates studio to pursue high-altitude mountaineering. Al-Harthy was celebrated as the first Omani woman to summit Mount Everest. Gurung, known to friends as Yukta, had achieved 10 successful ascents of Everest and set a record by summiting K2 within 24 hours.
Search and Recovery Operations in Gilgit-Baltistan
Rescue operations faced severe weather and treacherous terrain in the Karakoram range. Sajid Hussain, deputy director of the tourism department of the Gilgit-Baltistan region, explained the operational challenges to media outlets.
“Rescue teams have successfully identified the location of the victims; however, they have not yet been able to recover and bring them down safely.”
Sajid Hussain, deputy director of the tourism department of Gilgit-Baltistan
Chhang Dawa Sherpa, a board director of Seven Summit Treks, noted that search teams used drone footage to spot and identify the remaining bodies. He pointed out that unlike Nepal, Pakistan lacks long-line helicopter rescue practices on high mountains, requiring teams to prioritize the safety of ground retrieval crews. By Saturday, local police official Tahir Khan confirmed that recovered remains were being handled through Skardu and Islamabad.
Tributes and Legacy of Nirmal Purja
Leaders and mountaineering peers shared tributes following the confirmation of Purja’s death. Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah expressed shock over the disaster in the Karakoram range.
“Only physical journey of the climbers has stopped. But the history of their courage, dedication and contributions will always remain alive and inspiring.”
Balendra Shah, Prime Minister of Nepal
UK Defence Minister Wes Streeting, noting Purja’s prior service in the British military with the Gurkhas and the Special Boat Service, described him as an inspirational figure. Purja’s mountaineering achievements were globally popularized by the 2021 Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible
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