Bodies of five more international climbers, including world-renowned British-Nepali Nirmal Purja, have been airlifted to Skardu after they were killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said on Thursday.
The avalanche struck on July 30, cutting off contact with the 10-member international expedition led by 43-year-old Purja on Broad Peak, one of the world’s highest mountains. His company confirmed there were no survivors.
“Following one of the most technically demanding recovery operations on Broad Peak, the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirms that the bodies of Nirmal Purja, Wang Zhong, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Killi Pemba “Kilu” Sherpa have been transported to Skardu CMH Hospital by helicopter,” ACP said in its statement on Thursday.
“Following necessary procedures and documentation, they will be transferred to Islamabad,” it said, adding that they have been prepared for repatriation to their respective home countries under special arrangements.
ACP Secretary General Ayaz Shigri told Dawn that so far, seven bodies have been recovered and airlifted to Skardu. The search operation continues for the eighth day as Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi and American Sarah Mallory Geis remain missing.
Shigri said remains believed to belong to Geis had been airlifted on Saturday along with bodies of two other climbers, but her body has still not been found.
The body of Nawang Thindu Sherpa was spotted but could not be recovered due to its location in a high-altitude, avalanche-prone area, Naila Kiani of the ACP told Dawn.
A Pakistan Army helicopter on Thursday brought the five bodies to Skardu, where they were received by ACP, Baltistan Commissioner Kamal Khan, army officers, civil administration officials, the tourism department, the district administration and local representatives.
The participants paid tribute to the deceased climbers, acknowledged their contributions and expressed their condolences to the bereaved families.
Later, all the bodies were transferred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Skardu, where the necessary legal formalities, documentation and identification procedures were completed, ACP said.
The bodies were then placed in coffins, each draped with the national flag of the respective country before being accorded an official farewell with state honours.
Officials said that the search and rescue operation was carried out under extremely challenging conditions. They praised the exceptional efforts of the local high-altitude porters, rescue personnel and mountaineers who took part in the operation, and also commended the rescue team’s professionalism and dedication.
“Pakistan Army, local rescue teams and relevant agencies are participating in the search and rescue operation, and the search for the remaining missing mountaineers is continuing using all possible resources,” the ACP statement noted.
The bodies of Purja, Wang, Nima Sherpa and Kili Pemba Sherpa had been recovered on Sunday and airlifted to the base camp on Wednesday. Previously, Gyalu Sherpa’s body had also been shifted to base camp.
The five bodies could not be immediately moved from the base camp of Broad Peak as helicopter service was needed to airlift them, but bad weather had created difficulties in the transfer.
The bodies of two other climbers, identified as Oman’s Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy and Nepal’s Pur Bahadur Gurung, had been recovered on Friday and their remains were later airlifted to Skardu.
