A rescue mission to find climbers missing since an avalanche hit Broad Peak on July 30 has extended into its second day. The search involves international mountaineers, including Pakistan’s Sarbaz Khan and Shehzad, who have joined the ongoing efforts.
Teams are employing drones to scan the area for any signs of the missing climbers. On Friday, the bodies of three climbers were recovered and transported to Skardu. Those found include an Omani climber, an American woman, and a Nepali climber.
Despite these recoveries, five Nepali climbers, one Pakistani, and one Chinese climber remain unaccounted for. Among the missing are the record-holding Nepali climber Nima Sherpa and Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi.
Deputy Commissioner of Shigar, Sher Afzal, provided an update on the operation, highlighting the collaboration between the Pakistan Army, district administration, and local mountaineering experts. He noted that a civilian rescue team led by Sarbaz Khan was responsible for recovering the three bodies, which were then flown to CMH Skardu by Pakistan Army aviation.
Due to poor visibility, the search was temporarily paused for the night but is set to resume when conditions improve. Drone footage has reportedly detected the presence of additional climbers in the vicinity.
The district administration maintains continuous communication with all involved agencies and has expressed deep condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. The Gilgit-Baltistan government has pledged full support, including facilitating the repatriation of the deceased climbers’ bodies to their home countries.
