Pakistan’s Broad Peak region continues to face challenges in search and rescue operations following an avalanche that swept away six climbers. The incident occurred on Thursday when an avalanche hit the 8,051-meter (26,414ft) peak, with officials identifying one of the four recovered bodies as Nadhira Al Harthy, a renowned Omani climber.
The expedition comprised five Nepali climbers and two Americans: Pur Bahadur Gurung, identified as Nepalese, and Sarah Mallory Geis, an American. Pakistani authorities have confirmed three of their bodies were found on Friday in harsh weather conditions that hindered search efforts by helicopters. The officials did not immediately identify the fourth body.
The expedition leader was Nirmal Purja, a Nepal-born former soldier who has climbed all 14 highest peaks in the world within record time. He is known for his remarkable achievements and has been featured in several documentaries, including “14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible.” His record-breaking climb of Broad Peak was documented on Netflix.
The Nepali climbers were part of an international team that included Sohail Sakhi, a Pakistani climber who served as the expedition leader. The team also consisted of Wang, identified only by his Chinese nationality, and another foreign climber whose identity has not been confirmed yet.
The search for the remaining six missing climbers is ongoing, with officials emphasizing the remote location’s difficulty in facilitating rescue operations. Climbing experts note that barely three dozen mountaineers have successfully climbed all 14 highest peaks to date, including Broad Peak, which is considered one of Pakistan’s most challenging climbs.
Nepal’s Yukta Gurung, known by his friends as Yukta, holds the record for climbing Everest more times than anyone else from the Gurung community. He has also successfully summited K2 within 24 hours and regularly participated in rescue operations to help stranded tourists. His achievement is a testament to Nepal’s reputation as one of the most challenging mountain ranges.
Oman’s Nadhira Al Harthy, who became the first Omani woman to reach Mount Everest in 2019, has been identified among the recovered bodies. She holds a master’s degree in geography and previously served as director of the Citizenship Department at Oman’s Ministry of Education. Her achievement marked an important milestone for women in mountaineering.
The US’s Sarah Mallory Geis was also part of the expedition but did not survive the incident, with her body being recovered along with three others on Friday. The search continues, and officials urge climbers to exercise caution when venturing into remote areas.
Based on reporting from Al Jazeera.
