Ten climbers led by renowned Nepali mountaineer ‘missing’ on Pakistan peak

Mountaineer Nirmal Purja among those feared missing aft avalanche deed Broad Peak, Pakistan alpine nine says.

Ten climbers, led by renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, are feared missing aft an avalanche successful bluish Pakistan wherever they were connected a climbing expedition, the country’s alpine nine said.

“The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) has received profoundly concerning reports of an avalanche that struck a squad of climbers connected Broad Peak (8,047m) successful the Karakoram upland range,” the nine said precocious connected Thursday, adding that the squad was led by Purja and could not beryllium reached since the incident.

Broad Peak is the 12th-highest upland successful the world.

The ACP said the expedition comprises 10 people, including 5 from Nepal, 1 from Pakistan, 1 from Oman, 1 from China, 1 from the United States, and different overseas climber whose nationality it did not disclose.

“The full squad has reportedly been retired of connection since the avalanche,” the nine said.

“Every imaginable effort is being made to guarantee that chopper enactment and each disposable rescue resources are mobilised astatine the earliest opportunity, taxable to upwind and operational conditions,” it added.

Purja, 43, besides known as Nims Dai, has breached aggregate climbing records since becoming a full-time mountaineer and circuit usher successful 2018, aft leaving the British military.

He climbed each 14 “eight-thousanders” (peaks supra 8,000 metres, oregon 26,000 feet) successful six months and six days betwixt April and October 2019, a grounds astatine the time.

In 2021, Purja completed the archetypal wintertime ascent of K2 arsenic portion of a squad of 9 different Nepalese climbers.