A ten-member international mountaineering expedition, led by the renowned Nepal-born former Royal Marine Nirmal Purja, is feared missing following an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. The incident occurred around midday on Thursday on the 8,047-metre (26,400 ft) mountain, which is located in the Karakoram range and stands as the world's 12th highest peak.
According to Pakistani mountaineering officials, there has been no communication with the climbing party since the avalanche struck. The group is reported to include an American, a Chinese national, an Omani, and five Nepali climbers.
Karrar Haidri, vice-president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, stated that officials are coordinating with authorities to arrange a helicopter rescue operation, which is tentatively scheduled for Friday morning, depending on local weather conditions. In a separate statement, the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed it is in constant contact with authorities to ensure all available resources are mobilized as quickly as possible. The club expressed its solidarity with the families of the climbers and the international mountaineering community, offering prayers for their safety and a successful rescue.
Nirmal Purja, the expedition leader, gained global recognition in 2019 for climbing all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks in just over six months. His military career began when he joined the British Army in 2003, later becoming a Royal Marine in 2009. His mountaineering journey started in 2012 during a trek to the Everest base camp, where he made the spontaneous decision to climb the mountain.
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