Broad Peak avalanche: Nirmal Purja's remains airlifted to Skardu
Synopsis
Nirmal Purja — the man who climbed all 14 eight-thousanders in six months — died attempting to do it twice. His remains and those of four teammates have been airlifted from Broad Peak after a 30 July avalanche, while two climbers remain missing on day eight of a gruelling high-altitude recovery operation.
Key Takeaways
The mortal remains of Nirmal Purja , Wang Zhong , Nima Sherpa , Gyalu Sherpa , and Killi Pemba 'Kilu' Sherpa have been airlifted to Skardu CMH Hospital .
A total of seven bodies have been recovered so far; search operations entered their eighth day .
Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi and American Sarah Mallory Geis remain missing.
The body of Nawang Thindu Sherpa was spotted but could not be retrieved due to its high-altitude location.
Purja had aimed to become the first person to summit all 14 eight-thousanders twice ; he previously set the record by climbing them once in just over six months in 2019 .
The Nimsdai Foundation has launched the Broad Peak Guides' Family Support Fund to assist the families of the guides killed in the avalanche.
The mortal remains of celebrated mountaineer Nirmal Purja and four other climbers killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan have been airlifted to Skardu, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) confirmed on Thursday, 6 August. The tragedy struck on 30 July when a massive avalanche cut off a 10-member international expedition led by the 43-year-old Nepali-British mountaineer.
Bodies Transported to Skardu CMH Hospital
'Following one of the most technically demanding recovery operations on Broad Peak, the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirms that the bodies of Nirmal Purja, Wang Zhong, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Killi Pemba 'Kilu' Sherpa have been transported to Skardu CMH Hospital by helicopter,' the ACP said in a statement. The organisation added that following necessary procedures and documentation, the remains will be transferred to Islamabad and subsequently repatriated to their respective home countries.
Search Continues for Two Missing Climbers
As of the eighth day of search operations, seven bodies in total have been recovered and airlifted to Skardu, according to ACP Secretary General Ayaz Shigri. Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi and American climber Sarah Mallory Geis remain missing. ACP's Naila Kiani noted that the body of Nawang Thindu Sherpa had been spotted but could not be retrieved due to its location in a high-altitude area, underscoring the extreme difficulty of the ongoing recovery effort.
Who Was Nirmal Purja
Purja, a former British Gurkha soldier, rose to global prominence in 2019 when he climbed all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks in just over six months under his celebrated 'Project Possible' campaign — shattering a previous record that had stood at nearly eight years. His ambition on this expedition was even more historic: he sought to become the first person in history to summit all 14 eight-thousanders twice. Broad Peak, at 8,051 metres, was to be a milestone in that quest.
Nimsdai Foundation Launches Family Support Fund
The Nimsdai Foundation, a charity established by Purja, has launched the Broad Peak Guides' Family Support Fund — a global fundraising campaign to provide financial assistance to the families of the mountain guides who perished in the disaster. The initiative reflects the broader community impact of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of experienced high-altitude professionals from multiple nations.
What Happens Next
Repatriation of the recovered remains to their home countries is expected once documentation procedures in Islamabad are completed. Search operations for the two missing climbers continue, though extreme terrain and altitude present formidable obstacles. The mountaineering community worldwide is closely watching developments on Broad Peak, one of the world's highest and most treacherous summits.
Point of View
But it also created a template of speed and record-chasing that critics in the climbing community have long warned carries compounding risk. The fact that a 10-member expedition was lost to a single avalanche, with two climbers still unaccounted for on day eight, raises hard questions about risk assessment on the eight-thousanders. High-altitude guiding remains one of the world's most dangerous livelihoods, and the Nimsdai Foundation's emergency fund — while necessary — highlights the structural absence of institutional safety nets for the Sherpa and guide community that makes these expeditions possible.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Nirmal Purja and why was he famous?
Nirmal Purja was a former British Gurkha soldier turned elite mountaineer who climbed all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks in just over six months in 2019, shattering a record that had previously stood at nearly eight years. His 'Project Possible' campaign made him one of the most celebrated high-altitude climbers of his generation.
What happened on Broad Peak on 30 July?
An avalanche struck a 10-member international expedition led by Nirmal Purja on Broad Peak on 30 July, cutting off all contact with the team. Seven bodies have since been recovered, with two climbers — Sohail Sakhi and Sarah Mallory Geis — still missing as search operations continue.
Where have the recovered bodies been taken?
The bodies of Nirmal Purja, Wang Zhong, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Killi Pemba 'Kilu' Sherpa have been transported by helicopter to Skardu CMH Hospital. They are expected to be transferred to Islamabad before repatriation to their respective home countries.
Why could all the bodies not be recovered?
ACP's Naila Kiani confirmed that the body of Nawang Thindu Sherpa was spotted but could not be retrieved due to its location in an extremely high-altitude area. The terrain on Broad Peak makes recovery operations technically demanding and hazardous.
What support is available for the families of the climbers killed?
The Nimsdai Foundation, the charity founded by Nirmal Purja, has launched the Broad Peak Guides' Family Support Fund — a global fundraising campaign to provide financial assistance to the families of the mountain guides who died in the avalanche.
