GILGIT (Kashmir English): An avalanche on the world’s 12th highest peak, Broad Peak (8,047 meters), in northern Pakistan has left about 10 climbers, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nimsdai and Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, missing.
All the climbers have been lost contact for several hours. The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed the incident and said that the avalanche hit a group of climbers on Broad Peak on Thursday afternoon.
Initial reports suggest that contact has not been possible with all the climbers since the accident.
According to the Alpine Club, the affected team includes five Nepalese climbers led by world-renowned mountaineer Nimsdai.
The team includes Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi from Hunza, Omani mountaineer Nazira, American mountaineer Mallory Gass, Chinese mountaineer Mr. Wang, and another foreign mountaineer.
Alpine Club of Pakistan President Major General Irfan Arshad and the club’s top leadership are in constant touch with top government officials and relevant agencies for immediate search and rescue operations.
According to the statement, every effort is being made to mobilize helicopters and other available relief resources as soon as possible, keeping in mind the weather and operational conditions.
On the other hand, sources at Broad Peak Base Camp have also appealed for an immediate helicopter rescue operation.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan has said that it is continuously monitoring the situation and is in touch with all relevant agencies.
The club expressed prayers for the safe recovery of the missing mountaineers and said that more information regarding the incident will be released as soon as it is received.
It should be noted that Broad Peak is the twelfth-highest peak in the world at 8,047 meters above sea level, located near K2 in the Karakoram mountain range, and is considered one of the most difficult peaks for mountaineers around the world.
