You are connecting from Lake Geneva Public Library, please login or register to take advantage of your institution's Ground News Plan.
Published 7 hours ago • loading... • Updated 1 hour ago
Nirmal Purja among 10 climbers feared missing after avalanche
Rescuers are trying to reach the team as helicopters and ground crews are being mobilized, officials said, after the avalanche cut off contact.
On Thursday, an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak left 10 international climbers missing, including world-renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja. The Alpine Club reported the group has been out of communication since the midday incident.
Rising 8,047m within the Karakoram range, Broad Peak is the world's 12th highest mountain. It consistently draws mountaineers globally who attempt to scale its challenging summit in northern Pakistan.
The expedition of 10 climbers includes Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, Omani mountaineer Nadhira, Chinese climber Wang, and American climber Mallory Geis, led by Purja. Known as Nims Dai, he previously scaled all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters in 189 days.
Vice President Karrar Haidri of the Alpine Club said the organization is "in constant contact with the highest government authorities" to facilitate an immediate search and rescue operation.
Mobilization of rescue resources depends on weather and operational conditions, the ACP stated, as helicopters and all available relief efforts are being coordinated with government stakeholders.
Ten climbers, including world-renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, are missing after an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. A search and rescue operation is underway. Purja had summited 14 eight-thousanders in six months in 2019.
Ten people were reported missing in Pakistan after an avalanche on Broad Peak (8.047 metres above sea level), including Nirmal Purja, a mountaineering star who has already climbed all the highest peaks on the planet. - Pakistan: ten people missing after an avalanche, including the mountaineering star Nirmal Purja (International).