Approximately ten climbers, among them the well-known Nepali mountaineer Nims Dai and Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi from Hunza, are feared missing following an avalanche that struck their expedition on Broad Peak, which stands at 8,047 metres in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range, on Thursday.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) reported that the avalanche occurred around midday, after which all members of the expedition lost communication. The team included five Nepali climbers led by Nims Dai, Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, Omani mountaineer Nadhira, American climber Mallory Geis, Chinese climber Mr Wang, and another foreign climber.
In a significant development, the ACP confirmed that all expedition members have been out of contact since the avalanche struck. The club’s President, Major General Irfan Arshad, along with senior officials, is maintaining continuous communication with government authorities and relevant agencies to coordinate an immediate search and rescue effort.
Efforts are underway to mobilize helicopter support and all available rescue resources as soon as weather and operational conditions permit, the ACP stated. Meanwhile, sources at the Broad Peak base camp have urgently called for a helicopter rescue mission after losing contact with the climbers for several hours.
Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain, is located in the northern Karakoram range of Pakistan and is known as one of the most demanding peaks for high-altitude expeditions in the country.
The ACP is closely monitoring the situation and working with all involved parties, promising to provide further updates as more information emerges.
