Avalanche kills four, search continues for others including famed mountaineer Nirmal Purja
Avalanche Kills Four, Search Continues for Climbers on Broad Peak
Earthguardiansonline.com – Avalanche kills four search continues as rescue teams hunt for ten mountaineers who disappeared after a massive snowslide hit Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. The disaster struck around midday Thursday, claiming the lives of four climbers while leaving ten others unaccounted for. Among those still missing is renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who was leading an expedition on the 8,047-meter summit when the avalanche struck. Ground crews and helicopter operators have been working tirelessly through rugged terrain since the incident.
Irfan Arshad Khan, president of the Pakistan Alpine Club, confirmed that three victims have been recovered and transported to a military hospital by army helicopter. The deceased include American climber Mallory Geis, Omani mountaineer Nadhira Al Harthy, and Nepali climber Pur Bahadur Gurung, known as “Yukta.” The Gilgit Baltistan tourism board, which administers this region of Kashmir, stated that legal procedures for identifying the remains are underway.
There is a lot of snow from whats been seen from the helicopters and we are being cautious as this is avalanche season.
Drone footage captured during operations suggests additional bodies may remain on the mountain slopes. Search efforts paused temporarily due to poor weather, though Sherpas and expedition members prepared to resume as conditions improved. Ayaz Ahmed Shigri, the alpine club’s general secretary coordinating from Skardu, warned that another slide could happen given the heavy snow accumulation visible from aerial views.
GPS signals show four missing climbers are still transmitting their positions, suggesting they may have found shelter or are trapped in reachable areas. CNN has reached out to the United States State Department about the American climber among those missing. None of the ten expedition members have been heard from since the disaster.
Nirmal Purja: Mountaineering Champion
Nirmal Purja, affectionately known as “Nims,” gained global fame in 2019 when he climbed all fourteen of the world’s peaks above 8,000 meters in just over six months. This remarkable achievement was featured in the Netflix series “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.” Before his climbing career, Purja served sixteen years in the British Army, first with the Brigade of Gurkhas and then with the Special Boat Service, an elite unit of the UK’s Royal Navy.
His mountaineering journey started in 2012 when he trekked to Everest Base Camp, sparking his love for high-altitude climbing. The Nimsdai foundation, which he created to help mountain communities in Nepal, said this early trip “fired his passion and ambition for the mountains.” A spokesperson told CNN that their priority remains the safety of everyone involved in the expedition.
Purja earned the Member of the Order of the British Empire honor in 2018 for his military service and climbing accomplishments. His record attempt began in April 2019 and ended in October, finishing in 189 days and beating South Korean climber Kim Chang-ho’s previous record by more than seven years. Throughout his journey, Purja and his team performed many brave rescues, often risking their own lives to help others.
He called his achievement to CNN an “extremely, horrendously good experience,” even though his oxygen was stolen during his climb of Lhotse, Earth’s fourth-highest mountain. The speed record for climbing all fourteen peaks was later broken in 2023 by Norwegian climber Kristin Harila and Nepali mountaineer Tenjin Sherpa, who completed the feat in three months and one day.
Broad Peak: A Challenging Climb
Purja also highlighted overcrowding on Mount Everest after sharing photos showing what looked like a “traffic jam” on the upper slopes during his 2019 summit. The pictures caused significant criticism and led the Nepalese government to create new climbing rules. In 2024, he became the fastest person to summit all fourteen peaks without extra oxygen.
Reaching even one “8,000er” brings serious challenges, as climbers must navigate the “death zone”—a mountaineering term for altitudes above roughly 8,000 meters where oxygen levels drop too low for human survival. Broad Peak, the twelfth-tallest mountain worldwide, is generally considered one of the more difficult eight-thousanders to climb due to its steep slopes and unpredictable weather patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of the search for missing climbers? Rescue teams are actively searching for ten mountaineers after an avalanche on Broad Peak killed four. Four climbers are still transmitting GPS signals, offering hope they may be in accessible locations.
Who are the confirmed victims of the avalanche? The three recovered victims are American climber Mallory Geis, Omani mountaineer Nadhira Al Harthy, and Nepali climber Pur Bahadur Gurung (nickname “Yukta”).
Why is the search being delayed? Unfavorable weather conditions and the risk of another avalanche due to heavy snow accumulation have temporarily halted search operations.
What makes Broad Peak challenging to climb? Broad Peak is considered one of the more difficult eight-thousanders due to its steep slopes, unpredictable weather, and location in the Karakoram range.
