Broad Peak search for bodies of 3 climbers paused

• Mission to resume once weather improves
• Bodies of Nirmal Purja, four other foreign climbers flown to Islamabad for repatriation to their respective countries

GILGIT: The search operation to recover the remains of Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi and two foreign climbers missing after the deadly Broad Peak avalanche has been suspended due to the continuing risk of fresh avalanches, rescue officials said on Friday.

Search teams spent eight days trying to locate the rem­ains of Sohail Sakhi, American climber Sarah Mallory Geis, and Nepalese climber Nawang Thindu Sherpa before deteriorating conditions forced authorities to halt the mission.

Ayaz Shigri, General Secre­t­a­­ry of the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP), said a leg believed to belong to Geis had earlier been recovered. He added that Nawang Thindu Sherpa’s body has been located but cannot be retrieved because it lies in a highly dangerous, avalanche-prone area. He said rescue efforts would resume once weather conditions improve and the area is safe.

ACP President Major Gen-eral (retd) Irfan Arshad Khan also confirmed the suspension, saying rescue teams would return to Broad Peak when conditions permit.

Meanwhile, the bodies of five foreign climbers killed in the Bro­ad Peak avalanche were flown from Skardu to Islamabad on a private airline flight on Fri­day for repatriation. They were received by Airport Mana­ger Aftab Ali Shah Gillani, ASF Chief Security Officer Mu­­ham­mad Rashid, and other officials before being transfer­red to the mortuary at the Pims, where they will remain until repatriation arrangements are completed.

The bodies had been airlifted from Broad Peak Base Camp to Skardu and temporarily kept at the CMH, Skardu. Mr Khan said the deceased climbers were wrap­ped in their national flags bef­o­­re being handed over to airport au­­thorities by the Pakistan Army.

The remiains of three climbers will be repatriated to Nepal, while Purja’s body will be sent to the UK. Meanwhile, Chinese climber Zhong’s family is expected in Islamabad to collect his body.

With input from Mohammad Asghar

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026