Body of climber Nirmal Purja, six others recovered after Pakistan avalanche

What the report says

Rescue teams in Pakistan have recovered the bodies of seven climbers from Broad Peak after an avalanche hit a 10-person international expedition on the mountain, Al Jazeera reported, citing AFP and Reuters. Three climbers remain missing. The avalanche struck around midday on Thursday on the 8,051-metre peak in the Karakoram range, one of the most remote and difficult climbing environments in the world.

Among those confirmed dead is Nirmal Purja, the Nepali-British mountaineer widely known as Nims Dai. His expedition company confirmed his death on Saturday. Al Jazeera said Purja was 43 and had become internationally famous after setting a record in 2019 by summiting all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks in 189 days, a feat later featured in a Netflix documentary. The article added that he had also been part of the first winter ascent of K2 by an all-Nepali team.

Search operations have been complicated by bad weather and the terrain, with helicopters grounded at times and ground teams later reaching the site. The bodies of several other climbers were identified, including people from Nepal, Oman, the United States and China. Three climbers are still unaccounted for, including a Pakistani guide who had reportedly planned to retire from expedition work after this trip.

The incident underscores the risks facing mountaineers on Pakistan’s highest peaks and the limits of rescue capacity in such remote areas. Al Jazeera noted that tributes have been paid internationally, reflecting Purja’s prominence far beyond climbing circles.