Mountaineers, diplomats, and members of civil society gathered in Islamabad on Tuesday evening to hold a candlelight vigil for ten climbers who lost their lives in an avalanche on Broad Peak. The somber event took place on the open lawns of a sports complex, where mourners braved rainy conditions to light candles and offer prayers for those who did not return from the expedition.
The tragedy occurred on July 30, when a massive avalanche struck an international expedition on the 8,051-meter (26,414-foot) mountain. Broad Peak, located in the Karakoram range, is the world’s 12th-highest peak and sits adjacent to K2. The expedition included members from Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, China, Britain, and the United States. Nepal was particularly hard hit, suffering the loss of six climbers.
Among those confirmed dead was the renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja. Nepal’s ambassador to Pakistan, Rita Dhital, attended the vigil to pay her respects. She shared personal memories of Purja, recalling a conversation at her home before the expedition where he famously told her, “Giving up is not in my blood.” Ambassador Dhital expressed her gratitude to the Pakistani rescuers and climbers who navigated dangerous weather conditions to conduct the search and recovery mission. She specifically praised Sirbaz Khan, who led the recovery team, as well as the Alpine Club of Pakistan, the military, and government officials for their efforts.
The search operation concluded days before the vigil, with eight bodies recovered. Two climbers remain missing. According to Irfan Arshad Khan, president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, the remains of seven individuals, including all six climbers from Nepal, have already been repatriated. He noted that the recovery was exceptionally difficult, as severe weather repeatedly grounded helicopters, forcing rescue teams to perform much of the search and recovery on foot. Eight bodies were ultimately moved to a location suitable for airlift.
Rescuer Sirbaz Khan described the emotional toll of the mission, telling the Associated Press that he had initially hoped to find the climbers alive. Instead, the team had to use shovels to dig through the snow, recovering the bodies one by one. Despite the difficulty of seeing fellow mountaineers lost on the mountain, the team remained focused, using ropes and makeshift stretchers to bring the victims down. Khan stated that while he remains deeply saddened, he finds some solace in knowing the families were able to receive the remains of their loved ones.
During the vigil, Irfan Arshad Khan addressed the attendees, highlighting the courage of those who continued the search on foot when aerial support was unavailable. Mountaineering accidents remain a common occurrence in northern Pakistan, home to many of the world’s most challenging high-altitude peaks.
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