World-renowned mountaineer and former British Special Forces soldier Nirmal Purja (popularly known as Nims Dai), along with a 10-member international expedition team, has gone missing following a massive avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak.
The disaster struck the 8,051-meter (26,401 ft) peak—the 12th-highest mountain in the world—at an altitude of around 7,000 meters.
Key Updates & Rescue Operations
Bodies Recovered: Search and rescue teams have recovered four bodies so far. Among those identified are Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy and Nepali climber Pur Bahadur Gurung.
Missing Climbers: The 10-member team includes climbers from Nepal, Pakistan, the United States, China, and Oman.
Rescue Challenges: The Alpine Club of Pakistan and military aviation helicopters have been mobilized. However, adverse weather conditions and heavy fog are severely hindering aerial search operations.
A Ray of Hope: GPS tracking data from some devices indicated movement after the avalanche, suggesting that the team was swept downhill, prompting rescuers to ramp up their efforts.
Who is Nirmal Purja (‘Nims Dai’)?
Nirmal Purja, 43, is a legendary figure in modern mountaineering. A former British Royal Marine, he made global headlines in 2019 by summiting all 14 of the world’s peaks above 8,000 meters in a record-breaking 6 months and 6 days (a feat chronicled in the Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible”). He was also part of the historic team that achieved the first-ever winter ascent of K2.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the climbers, their families, and the global mountaineering community during this critical time. Stay tuned for further updates.
