Devastating avalanche in G-B: Army copters evacuate bodies of five more climbers

ISLAMABAD: The recovery operation on Broad Peak entered its final stages on Thursday after Pakistan Army helicopters evacuated the bodies of five more climbers killed in a devastating avalanche last week, bringing the number of recovered victims to eight.

The climbers were among a 10-member international expedition that was struck by an avalanche on July 31 on the slopes of the 8,051-metre mountain in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Two members of the team remain missing as search efforts continue in one of the country’s deadliest mountaineering tragedies.

Talking to reporters, Alpine Club of Pakistan President Irfan Arshad Khan said the recovered bodies were transported from the mountain’s base camp to a military facility in Skardu, where arrangements are being made for their onward transfer.

The latest recovery included celebrated British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, along with Chinese climber Zhong Wang and Nepali climbers Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa and Kilu Sherpa, officials said. Three bodies had earlier been recovered from the mountain on August 01.

The ill-fated expedition included climbers from Nepal, China, Pakistan, Oman, Britain and the United States. Officials said the remains would be moved to Islamabad after consultations with the respective embassies before being handed over to the families of the victims.

The recovery operation involved Pakistani and Nepali mountaineers working in extremely difficult conditions at high altitude, they added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026