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Nirmal Purja Among 10 Climbers Missing After Broad Peak Avalanche — AI-generated representative image: Broad Peak in the Karakoram range where ten climbers including Nirmal Purja went missing after an avalanche.

Editorial Team

The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirms a multinational expedition led by the record-setting mountaineer has lost contact after an avalanche struck the 8,047-metre Karakoram peak

A team of ten climbers led by renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja is feared missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in northern Pakistan's Karakoram mountain range, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) confirmed late Thursday. The expedition, comprising climbers from six nations, has been completely out of communication since the incident occurred on the 8,047-metre mountain, the world's 12th-highest peak.

The disappearance of Purja, one of the most celebrated figures in modern mountaineering, has sent shockwaves through the global climbing community. Broad Peak, while less notorious than nearby K2, presents significant objective dangers including avalanche-prone slopes and unpredictable weather, factors that will heavily influence the pace and feasibility of any rescue operation.

What Is Known So Far

The ACP stated that the avalanche struck the climbing team on Broad Peak and that no communication has been possible since. The expedition includes ten climbers: five from Nepal, and one each from Pakistan, Oman, China, and the United States. The nationality of the tenth climber has not been disclosed by authorities.

The club emphasized that efforts are underway to mobilize helicopter support and all available rescue resources at the earliest opportunity. However, it cautioned that these operations remain subject to weather and operational conditions in the high-altitude environment.

Purja's Record-Breaking Career

Nirmal Purja, 43, widely known as Nims Dai, transitioned to full-time mountaineering in 2018 after serving in the British military. He quickly established himself as one of the most accomplished high-altitude climbers in history. Between April and October 2019, Purja climbed all 14 of the world's eight-thousanders - peaks exceeding 8,000 metres - in just six months and six days, shattering the previous record.

In 2021, he achieved another historic milestone by completing the first winter ascent of K2, the world's second-highest mountain, as part of a ten-member team of Nepalese climbers. That feat was widely regarded as one of the last great challenges in high-altitude mountaineering.

The Alpine Club's Official Statement

The ACP described receiving "deeply concerning reports" of the avalanche and confirmed the team was led by Purja. "The entire team has reportedly been out of communication since the avalanche," the club stated. It added that "every possible effort is being made to ensure that helicopter support and all available rescue resources are mobilised at the earliest opportunity, subject to weather and operational conditions."

Broad Peak, situated in the Karakoram range along the Pakistan-China border, stands at 8,047 metres and is known for its technical difficulty and exposure to serac falls and avalanche hazards, particularly during the summer climbing season.

Rescue Efforts Underway

As of the latest update, the ten climbers remain unaccounted for and out of contact. The ACP is coordinating with relevant authorities to deploy helicopter rescue teams as soon as weather permits. No further details about the avalanche's timing, the climbers' last known position, or their condition have been released. Further updates are expected once aerial reconnaissance becomes possible.