- Candlelight vigil held in Islamabad on Tuesday evening honored the 10 climbers killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak, including renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja.
- The vigil took place after search teams recovered the remains of eight climbers, with two bodies still not recovered.
- The bodies of six Nepalese climbers have been returned to their families, with three arriving in Katmandu.
- Rain fell as mourners lit candles and prayed for the dead during the vigil, which took place at a sports complex in Islamabad.
- On July 30, a massive avalanche struck an international expedition on Broad Peak, resulting in the deaths of 10 climbers.
- The recovery operation faced challenges due to bad weather, which hindered helicopters from reaching the accident site.
- Broad Peak, at 8,051 meters (26,414 feet), is the world’s 12th-highest mountain and is located in Pakistan’s Karakoram range.
A candlelight vigil in Islamabad on Tuesday evening honored the ten climbers, including renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who tragically lost their lives in a devastating avalanche on Broad Peak on July 30. The vigil, attended by mountaineers, diplomats, and civil society members, took place amidst rain, as mourners lit candles and prayed for the deceased.1457
The avalanche claimed the lives of six climbers from Nepal, with the bodies of three being repatriated to Kathmandu. Irfan Arshad Khan, president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, confirmed that the remains of seven climbers had been recovered, while two bodies remain missing. The recovery operation faced significant challenges due to adverse weather conditions, which hampered helicopter access to the site, forcing rescuers to work on foot in treacherous terrain.2
Nepal's ambassador to Pakistan, Rita Dhital, expressed her condolences, stating, “The world lost ten of its best climbers and Nepal lost six in a single day.” She praised the efforts of Pakistani climbers and rescuers, particularly Sirbaz Khan, who led the recovery team. Khan had hoped to find survivors but instead faced the grim task of recovering bodies buried beneath the snow.
The tragedy has drawn attention to the inherent dangers of high-altitude mountaineering, particularly on peaks like Broad Peak, which rises 8,051 meters (26,414 feet) in the Karakoram range. Gambu Sherpa, chairperson of Khijidemba Village Municipality, lamented the loss, calling it the biggest tragedy for Nepal's mountaineering sector. “His entire village is in great shock, as is the country,” he said.
“Nepal's ambassador Rita Dhital recalled Purja saying 'Giving up is not in my blood,' and praised rescuer Sirbaz Khan for leading the recovery. The operation recovered eight bodies, with two still missing, as bad weather forced rescuers to work on foot.”
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Arab News
