Bodies of Five More Climbers from Broad Peak Tragedy Reach Skardu
The bodies of five additional mountaineers who died in the Broad Peak tragedy were airlifted to Skardu on Thursday. A formal reception ceremony was held in their honour, attended by Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Speaker Imran Nadeem, civil and military officials, members of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, and local representatives who paid tribute to the deceased climbers.
After the ceremony, the bodies were taken to the Combined Military Hospital for the required legal procedures. Officials confirmed that each body was placed in a coffin draped with the national flag of the climber’s home country before being given an official farewell. The remains have now been prepared for repatriation to their respective countries.
The tragedy occurred on July 30 when an avalanche struck a 10-member international expedition on Broad Peak. The team was led by celebrated British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, known for setting the record for the fastest ascent of the world’s 14 highest mountains. Purja and nine others lost their lives in the disaster.
Earlier this month, the Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed the recovery of the bodies of Nirmal Purja, Zhong Wang, Nima Sherpa, and Kilu Sherpa after a difficult and technically demanding operation. A search team transported those remains to the mountain’s base camp on Wednesday.
With the latest airlift of five more bodies, the total number brought to Skardu has risen to eight. The bodies of two climbers, including Pakistan’s Sohail Sakhi, have still not been recovered.
Foreign climbers’ remains will be returned to their home countries once formalities are complete. The recovery efforts continue under challenging high-altitude conditions as authorities and mountaineering organisations work to bring closure to the families affected by this devastating Broad Peak tragedy.
