Broad Peak Tragedy: Three Climbers Dead, Nirmal Purja Among Those Still Unaccounted For
A press release from the Commissioner Baltistan confirms three climbers have died in the Broad Peak avalanche. Search and rescue operations resume today for the remaining team members, including celebrated mountaineer Nirmal Purja.
Skardu — August 1, 2026
The office of the Commissioner Baltistan has issued an official press release confirming that three climbers died after an avalanche struck a 10-member international mountaineering expedition on Broad Peak (8,047m). Search and rescue operations, suspended overnight due to bad weather, are set to resume today, with Sherpas from other expedition teams joining the effort.
Full Timeline, According to the Official Press Release
June 29, 2026 — The 10-member international expedition entered Skardu District to attempt Broad Peak, in Shigar district, Gilgit-Baltistan. The expedition was organized through Karakoram Expeditions, Imagine Climb Pakistan, and Blue Sky Trek & Tours Company.
July 30, 2026, 9:00 AM — The climbing team was last contacted by its handling tour operator. No further contact could be established after this point.
July 30, 2026, 8:00 PM — An avalanche struck the team while it was ascending from Camp II to Camp III, at an approximate altitude of 6,600 meters.
July 31, 2026, 8:30 AM — Following a formal request from the tour operators, the official rescue mission began. Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters deployed a 3-member civilian rescue team, led by renowned mountaineer Sirbaz Khan (with team members Waqar and Shehzad), to Broad Peak Base Camp.
July 31, 2026 — The rescue team ascended on foot from Base Camp toward Camp II, recovering the bodies of three climbers along the way.
Confirmed Deceased
According to the official press release, the following climbers have been confirmed dead:
- Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy — Oman
- Sarah Mallory Geis — United States (remains recovered)
- Pur Bahadur Gurung — Nepal
The three bodies were transported to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) by Army Aviation helicopters, where legal formalities regarding identification are currently under process.
Search Suspended Overnight, Resuming Today
The search and rescue mission was suspended on July 31 due to inclement weather, with the rescue team stationed at Base Camp overnight. The operation is set to resume today, August 1, with Sherpas from other expeditions on the mountain also joining the effort. The rescue team has reported spotting a few additional bodies of climbers through drone footage, though these have not yet been recovered or formally identified.
The Full Expedition Team
The original 10-member team, per the official press release, comprised:
- Sarah Mallory Geis — United States (confirmed deceased)
- Pur Bahadur Gurung — Nepal (confirmed deceased)
- Nirmal Purja — United Kingdom, the celebrated mountaineer known for climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in under seven months in 2019
- Nawang Thindhu Sherpa — Nepal
- Gyalu Sherpa — Nepal
- Nima Sherpa — Nepal
- Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy — Oman (confirmed deceased)
- Wang Zhong — China
- Kili Pemba — Nepal
- Suhail Shahzad — Pakistan
Nirmal Purja, whose 2019 record-breaking ascent of all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks was the subject of the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, remains among the climbers still unaccounted for as of this update.
Operation Conducted Under Extreme Conditions
The rescue operation is being carried out under extremely challenging terrain and high-altitude weather conditions by the Pakistan Army, in coordination with local high-altitude climbers and rescuers.
Government Response
The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan has extended its heartfelt condolences to the families of the climbers and has committed to providing full support to the search and rescue mission, alongside the Pakistan Army, as well as to the eventual transportation of the deceased climbers' bodies to their respective home countries.
About Broad Peak
Broad Peak is the world's 12th-highest mountain, sitting in the Karakoram range near its far more famous neighbor, K2. While generally considered somewhat less technically demanding than K2, Broad Peak is known for harsh, unpredictable weather, and has seen fatal incidents in past climbing seasons.
A Developing Situation
This remains an active, developing situation. This page will continue to be updated as confirmed information is released by official sources.
Our thoughts remain with the climbers, their families, and the rescue teams working under extremely difficult conditions to bring them home.
This is a developing story. For the latest verified updates, follow official statements from the Commissioner Baltistan's office and the Gilgit-Baltistan government.
Source: Press release, PRO, Office of the Commissioner Baltistan — August 1, 2026.
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