The remains of veteran Nepalese-British climber Nirmal Purja were recovered on Sunday, three days after an avalanche swept him and nine other mountaineers away on Broad Peak in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
The club reported that the 43-year-old’s body was located at roughly 5,700 metres. Five bodies have been retrieved so far, and searches continue for the remaining five.
Ground teams reached Purja, also known as ‘Nims Dai’, at about 5,700 metres on Broad Peak, where three additional bodies were spotted but not identified, the club said. The team intends to move the remains to the Japanese camp while continuing recovery work amid tough conditions.
Steep slopes, avalanche risks and difficult terrain complicate operations, and helicopters cannot operate due to weather.
Purja and the others — five from Nepal, one Pakistani, one Omani, one American and one Chinese — were caught by the avalanche on Thursday on Broad Peak in the Karakoram range near K2. The peak is the world’s 12th highest and among the most demanding to ascend.
Purja’s company, Elite Exped, confirmed on Saturday that all ten had died. Four bodies were recovered on Friday.
Club president Major General Irfan Arshad identified three as Oman’s Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, Nepal’s Pur Bahadur Gurung and American Mallory Geis. The bodies were flown to Skardu.
Purja gained recognition in 2019 by climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres in six months and six days. He was close to finishing a second round of all fourteen after Broad Peak.
