Nirmal Purja among 10 climbers missing after Broad Peak avalanche

A 10-member international mountaineering team led by renowned Nepal-born former Royal Marine Nirmal Purja is feared missing after an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak, one of the world's highest mountains, according to reports from BBC and the Everest Chronicle. The avalanche hit at around midday on Thursday on the 8,047-metre (26,400 ft) peak in the Karakoram range, severing communication with the expedition.

Pakistani mountaineering officials confirmed the incident. Karrar Haidri, senior vice-president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, told Everest Chronicle that the entire team has been out of communication since the avalanche. The missing climbers include five Nepalis, an American, a Chinese national, an Omani, and a Pakistani, as per the Alpine Club of Pakistan. The club said it is coordinating with authorities to launch a search and rescue operation, with helicopter support subject to weather and operational conditions.

Purja, also known as Nimsdai, joined the British Army in 2003 and became a Royal Marine in 2009. His climbing career took off in 2012 when he spontaneously decided to climb Everest. He gained global recognition in 2019 for summiting all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in just over six months. Broad Peak, the world's 12th highest, lies on the Pakistan-China border near K2 and is known for its challenging conditions and avalanche risk.

As of now, there is no confirmation of casualties or survivors. Mingma David Sherpa, co-founder of Elite Exped, said a search helicopter is expected to reach the area early Friday, weather permitting. The incident highlights the inherent dangers of high-altitude mountaineering, even for experienced climbers, and has prompted an outpouring of concern from the international climbing community.