- Pakistani military helicopters airlifted the bodies of five climbers from Broad Peak, nearly a week after an avalanche swept away a 10-member international expedition.
- The recovered bodies include renowned British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, along with Chinese climber Zhong Wang and Nepali climbers Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Kilu Sherpa.
- The remains were transferred to a military hospital in Skardu, and will later be flown to Islamabad after coordination with embassies.
- Two climbers remain missing, and the search is ongoing following what the Alpine Club described as one of Pakistan's deadliest mountaineering disasters.
- Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed condolences and reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the recovery operation in coordination with the embassies of Nepal, Oman, UK, and US.
- The Alpine Club thanked Pakistani and Nepali recovery teams, including Pakistani mountaineers Sirbaz Khan, Abid Beg, Sherzad and Nepali climbers Dipen Gurung and Pemba Chhewang Sherpa for their roles in the difficult recovery operation.
Pakistani military helicopters successfully airlifted the bodies of five climbers from Broad Peak, including Nirmal Purja, following a tragic avalanche that occurred on July 31. The bodies were transported to Skardu and will be sent to Islamabad after coordination with the embassies of the climbers' home countries.123
The international team comprised climbers from Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, China, Britain, and the United States. The Alpine Club of Pakistan reported that three bodies were previously recovered on August 1, bringing the total to eight. Irfan Arshad Khan, president of the Alpine Club, confirmed that the remains are being transferred to a military hospital in Skardu.46
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed condolences to the victims' families, emphasizing the country's commitment to the recovery operation in collaboration with the embassies involved. Two climbers remain missing, and search efforts are ongoing, marking this incident as one of the deadliest in Pakistan's mountaineering history.5
Mountaineering accidents are frequent in northern Pakistan, where climbers face numerous hazards, including avalanches and extreme weather. The recovery of foreign climbers' bodies typically occurs only at the request of their families and governments, with many remains left on the mountains if recovery is declined.
The Alpine Club acknowledged the efforts of both Pakistani and Nepali recovery teams, highlighting the challenging nature of the operation.
“The recovered bodies include Chinese climber Zhong Wang and Nepali climbers Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Kilu Sherpa, flown to Skardu for transfer to Islamabad. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed condolences, and the Alpine Club thanked recovery teams including Sirbaz Khan and Dipen Gurung.”
