Internationally acclaimed mountaineer Nirmal Purja, popularly known as “Nims Dai,” is among ten climbers feared missing after a powerful avalanche struck Pakistan’s Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain, in the Karakoram range.
According to reports, the avalanche hit the 8,047-metre peak on Thursday afternoon while Purja was leading an expedition team attempting the summit.
Communication has reportedly been lost with all ten members of the team. The climbers include nationals from Nepal, the United States, China and Oman, along with Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi.
Purja, 43, is regarded as one of the greatest high-altitude climbers in the world. The Nepal-born mountaineer gained global recognition after completing the unprecedented feat of climbing all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks in just over six months, a journey later documented in the Netflix film 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.
Rescue operations are being planned, with Pakistani authorities and the Pakistan Alpine Club working to deploy helicopters and emergency teams to the remote mountain region. However, adverse weather conditions and the challenging terrain have complicated efforts.
Amid growing concern, Mingma David, a close associate of Purja, offered a glimmer of hope, stating that tracking data from Purja’s device suggested movement even after the avalanche. Authorities have not yet confirmed the status of any team members.
Broad Peak, located in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region near the Chinese border, is known for its extreme conditions and technical difficulty. Search and rescue efforts remain ongoing as the mountaineering community worldwide anxiously awaits updates.
