Islamabad: Following an avalanche on 'Broad Peak,' one of the world's highest mountains in northern Pakistan, 10 international mountaineers led by renowned Nepali climber Nims Dai have gone missing.
Pakistan is home to several major mountain peaks; mountaineers from various parts of the world come here to climb these peaks.
At an altitude of 8,047 meters (26,401 feet) above sea level in the Karakoram mountain range of northern Pakistan lies the peak of 'Broad Peak'. It is the 12th highest mountain peak in the world. Heavy rain and intense snowfall occur there from time to time. As a result, avalanches also occur.
In this situation, on Thursday (July 30), a 10-member international mountaineering team led by Nepalese renowned mountaineer Nims Dai began climbing 'Broad Peak'. In this context, reports have emerged that the mountaineers have gone missing after being caught in an avalanche that occurred there.
In this regard, Karar Haidari, vice president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, said in a statement issued on Thursday night,
Haidari said that initial reports had been received that an international mountaineering team of 10 members led by Nims Dai had been caught in an avalanche, and that contact with them had since been lost.
Haidari said this mountaineering team led by Nims Dai included five Nepali mountaineers, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi from Hunza, Nadhira from Oman, Mallory Keys from the United States, Chinese mountaineer Wang, and another foreign mountaineer.
To carry out official immediate search and rescue operations, the head of the organization, Major General Irfan Arshad, and senior executives are in contact with government officials and coordinating with them.
The organization has stated that, depending on weather conditions, all efforts for helicopters and other rescue operations are being undertaken.
The report also notes that the Alpine Club of Pakistan is closely monitoring the situation and working in coordination with all concerned parties.
Furthermore, the organization said it stands in solidarity with the families of mountaineers and the international mountaineering community.
Nepalese climber Nirmal Purja, also known as 'Nims Dai', set a world record in 2019 by climbing all 14 of the world's highest peaks in 189 days. His mountaineering achievements have been released as a documentary on Netflix titled "14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible".
