Alpine Club says Nepalese climber Nirmal Purja’s body found on Broad Peak
The Alpine Club (ACP) of Pakistan has announced that a rescue team led by Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi had successfully located and identified the remains of celebrated Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, who went missing after an avalanche on Saturday.
Purja, 39, was part of an elite expedition to climb Broad Peak in the Karakoram range. His body was found at approximately 5,700 meters above sea level by a ground rescue team that had been searching for him and his fellow climbers since Saturday morning.
The ACP has confirmed that all three members of Purja’s team were killed in the avalanche, which occurred on Friday evening. The bodies of two other climbers, Naila Kiani from Nepal and an unidentified climber believed to be American, have also been recovered by then.
Purja had tweeted earlier this week about his plans to attempt a solo climb of Broad Peak, but he was not expected to make it back alive due to the severity of the avalanche. His disappearance sparked widespread concern among climbers and mountaineers worldwide.
The ACP has announced that an eight-member ground team, comprising climbers from Pakistan and Nepal, will conduct a search and recovery mission on the slopes of Broad Peak under extremely difficult conditions. The rescue efforts are expected to take several days, with helicopters unable to be employed due to weather conditions.
Purja’s body was identified by his family members through DNA testing, which confirmed that it was indeed him. His remains were then transported down to a Japanese camp for further identification and burial.
The Alpine Club has expressed profound sorrow over Purja’s death and urges the public not to share unverified details about the incident. The organization will continue to provide updates on the situation as more information becomes available.
Source: Dawn
Based on reporting from Dawn.
