Four bodies found in search for missing climbers after Pakistan avalanche

Ground rescue teams on Friday, 31 July 2026, recovered four bodies on Broad Peak in Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan following an avalanche that struck an international expedition, while search operations for the remaining six missing mountaineers were subsequently suspended for the day due to severe weather conditions, according to the home secretary of Gilgit Baltistan and reporting from outlets such as Bbc and cbc.ca.

The disaster unfolded when an avalanche struck the 10-member team at around midday on Thursday, cutting off all communication from the base camp. The expedition was led by renowned Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja, also known as Nims Dai, whose record-breaking ascent of the world's 14 highest peaks was featured in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible. Purja had noted on X on Monday that he had not initially intended to climb Broad Peak, writing that the plan was to climb just G2, but that he realized if he succeeded, he would be the first person in history to climb all 14 eight-thousanders twice without oxygen.

Related YouTube video

The Alpine Club of Pakistan identified two of the deceased as Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy from Oman, and Pur Bahadur Gurung from Nepal, while the other two bodies remained unnamed. Thaneshwar Guragain, general manager of hiking agency Seven Summit Treks, told Kantipur that an identification process was underway. When asked about the possibility of finding other climbers alive, Guragain said their chances were slim, adding that the space for hope has become very narrow.

According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, the expedition comprised five Nepali climbers, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi from Hunza, Omani climber Nathira, American climber Mallory Geis, a Chinese climber identified only as Wang, and another foreign climber. Moving Mountains, a Pakistan-based travel company, noted that the climb was expected to be Sakhi's final major one. Sakhi worked as a guide, geographer, and high-altitude photographer for the company. Mallory Geis, 39, lived in San Antonio and announced on social media earlier in the year that she was closing her Pilates studio to take a leap of faith into the unknown, remarking that she suspected there would be helmets, harnesses, and crampons involved.

Diplomatic and institutional channels mobilized across the region as the crisis unfolded. Nepal's Ambassador to Pakistan, Rita Dhital, told Nepali news outlet Kantipur that an aerial and ground search effort had been mobilized using helicopters and drones, acknowledging unconfirmed reports of bodies at the scene while noting that official confirmations were pending. Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated Friday in Beijing that China was trying to verify whether any of its nationals were among the missing climbers and offered assistance to Chinese citizens and the Pakistani side. The Nepal Mountaineering Association coordinated rescue efforts with the Alpine Club of Pakistan, with general secretary Rajendra Bahadur Lama noting that Sherpa friends based in K2 were deploying to help.

Climbers on nearby mountains in the Karakoram range, including K2 and K3, descended from their camps to join the search, according to Nepalese lawmaker and business associate Mingma Gyabu Sherpa. Sherpa also confirmed to the Bbc that tracking data from Purja's device showed movement recorded the previous day. Pakistan Army aviation dispatched two rescue helicopters carrying personnel and specialized equipment from Skardu under the direction of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, led by President Major General Irfan Arshad, though Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain confirmed that adverse weather hampered flight operations.

Expedition and Rescue Parameters

• Location: Broad Peak, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan (8,047 meters / 26,400 feet, ranked as the world's 12th highest mountain).
• Expedition Roster: 10 total members, comprising five Nepalese climbers, one Pakistani mountaineer, one Omani climber, one American climber, one Chinese climber, and one other foreign climber.
• Identified Deceased: Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy (Oman) and Pur Bahadur Gurung (Nepal), alongside two unnamed individuals.
• Response Assets: Pakistan Army aviation helicopters from Skardu, drones, ground rescue teams, and assisting mountaineers descending from K2 and K3.

Rescue operations remain suspended awaiting clear weather windows to resume the search for the six remaining missing mountaineers, with official tracking and recovery efforts dependent on operational conditions in the Karakoram range.