- A ground team has now reached most of the 10 victims of Thursday’s avalanche on Broad Peak.
- Two bodies were retrieved near the base of the mountain on Friday, while drones spotted several of the others lying in the snow.
- All are now feared dead, although have happened in the mountains.
- Mingma G of Imagine Nepal has flown from neighboring K2 to join the search-and-recovery operation on 8,051m Broad Peak.
- Together with Sirbaz Khan and other Pakistani and Nepalese climbers, they set off from Camp 1 earlier today.
- As we post this story, they have now reached the victims.
- Mingma G’s team flew a drone above Camp 1 yesterday and reported seven immobile bodies.
- Authorities have also revealed that a body part found yesterday above Camp 1 belonged to Mallory Geis, an American client guided by Sohail Sakhi.
- The bodies of Yukta and Al Harthy were flown out yesterday.
- All commercial expeditions have been canceled, as all efforts are now focused on Broad Peak.
- This is a sad end to the climbing season on the Karakoram 8,000’ers.
- This is a bitter time, in particular, for Mingma G of Nepal, who had a close relationship with many of the victims.
- Mingma’s lead guide, Kili Pemba Sherpa, known as Kilu, was also hit by the avalanche while leading Wang Zhong of China.
- Kilu, Nirmal Purja, and Mingma G were part of the celebrated Nepalese team that did the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021.
Rescue operations on Broad Peak have become increasingly desperate as teams recover bodies from a devastating avalanche that struck on Thursday, claiming at least ten climbers, including the celebrated Nirmal Purja.
A ground team has reached most of the victims, with two bodies retrieved near the mountain's base and drones identifying several others lying in the snow. Authorities have confirmed that all are now feared dead, with the avalanche sweeping climbers hundreds of meters down the mountain rather than burying them.123
Mingma G of Imagine Nepal, alongside Sirbaz Khan and other climbers, has joined the search-and-recovery operation. They reported spotting seven immobile bodies from a drone above Camp 1.45
The area is steep and technical, complicating ground access, but two Pakistan Army helicopters are on standby to assist. This tragic incident marks a bitter end to the climbing season on the Karakoram 8,000ers, with all commercial expeditions canceled as efforts focus solely on Broad Peak.10
Mingma David Sherpa, a member of Nepal’s parliament and Purja's business partner, has flown to Skardu to assist in the recovery. This is a particularly painful time for Mingma G, who had close ties with many of the victims, including his lead guide, Kili Pemba Sherpa, who was also affected by the avalanche.
The climbing community mourns the loss of these adventurers, as the search continues under challenging conditions.
“A ground team including Mingma G — flown from neighboring K2 to 8,051m Broad Peak — reached most of the 10 victims; two bodies were retrieved Friday, and a drone reported seven immobile bodies. All are feared dead, and all commercial expeditions have been canceled as efforts focus on Broad Peak.”
