Nirmal Purja, the British mountaineer of Nepali origin, has been killed alongside nine other climbers after a series of powerful avalanches struck Broad Peak in Pakistan. Rescue teams are still working to recover the victims’ bodies in extremely difficult weather and terrain.
Elite Exped, the company responsible for organising the mountain expedition, announced the deaths on Saturday and paid tribute to Purja, one of the most prominent figures in modern mountaineering.
The company said in a statement: “The world has lost one of the greatest mountaineers,” adding: “There are no words that can ease the pain of this devastating loss.”
The disaster happened on Thursday, when sudden avalanches swept across the slopes of Broad Peak, burying the 10-member expedition beneath huge quantities of snow and ice.
Broad Peak is one of the most dangerous summits in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range. The scale of the avalanches and the harsh conditions have made recovery operations particularly hazardous, with rescue teams facing unstable snow, severe cold and difficult terrain.
On Friday, rescuers located four bodies and managed to recover three of them in a dangerous operation. However, worsening weather and heavy snowstorms severely restricted the use of helicopters assigned to the search and rescue effort.
The poor conditions forced the teams to suspend operations temporarily. Search and recovery work resumed on Saturday morning with support from Pakistani military helicopters, as crews attempted to locate the six bodies that remained missing.
The operation has been complicated by record-low temperatures and the rugged landscape surrounding the mountain. The weather has also made it difficult for aircraft to reach the area safely, limiting the assistance available to teams on the ground.
Purja’s death represents a major loss for the mountaineering community. He was regarded as one of the leading figures in the history of high-altitude climbing and had achieved a series of exceptional feats that established him as a global icon in the sport.
His reputation extended well beyond the climbing world, where he was recognised for his accomplishments on some of the highest and most demanding peaks. His death in the Broad Peak disaster has added to the tragedy for a sport already defined by its extreme risks.
Elite Exped did not provide further details about the identities of the other climbers in its statement. Recovery efforts remain focused on locating the six people whose bodies have not yet been retrieved, while rescuers continue to work in conditions described as exceptionally severe.
