July 31, 2026 | Outdoor News / Expedition Updates
The summer climbing season in Pakistan's Karakoram has been shattered by tragedy. On the morning of Thursday, July 30, a catastrophic avalanche struck an international expedition on Broad Peak (8,051m / 26,414ft), sweeping ten climbers, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal "Nimsdai" Purja and elite Pakistani guide Sohail Sakhi, down the mountain's upper West Ridge. The incident, one of the most significant mass-casualty events in modern Karakoram mountaineering, has sent shockwaves through the global high-altitude community and triggered an urgent, weather-hampered rescue mobilization involving Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters, drone surveillance, and ground-based search teams.
What Happened: The Avalanche & Location
The avalanche occurred between 8:57 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. local time at approximately 6,579 meters (21,580 feet), in the exposed traverse between Camp II and Camp III on Broad Peak's standard West Ridge route.
According to GPS tracking data reviewed by mountaineering analysts, the slide carried the team devastatingly downhill. American climber Mallory Geis's tracker registered a sudden descent of 543 meters (1,784 feet), while Omani climber Nadhira Al Harthy's device recorded a drop of 1,651 meters (5,417 feet), underscoring the immense scale and force of the event.
Pakistani mountaineer Samson Sharaf, mentor to missing guide Sohail Sakhi, analyzed satellite imagery of the accident zone and described the likely trigger: "The overhang where the accident took place is clearly visible. Most probably the entire, snow-laden face moved, sweeping the entire traverse."
The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) confirmed in an official statement that the entire team has been out of communication since the avalanche.
The Expedition Team & High-Altitude Community
The ten-member team was led by Nirmal "Nims" Purja, the 43-year-old Nepali alpinist who rose to global fame through the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. Purja holds the speed record for climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen, a feat he completed in October 2024 after 2 years and 150 days—and had recently summited his 57th eight-thousander, Gasherbrum II, on July 21.
Just days before the tragedy, Purja posted on Instagram after the Gasherbrum II ascent: "The mountains never owe us anything. Sometimes they welcome us; sometimes they don't. This time, they granted us safe passage, and for that I am deeply thankful."
Among those missing is Sohail Sakhi, a 35-year-old elite high-altitude guide from Pakistan's Hunza Valley. A mathematician by training, Sakhi was a passionate advocate for Pakistani guides and had spoken publicly about pay inequity and the need for greater recognition of local high-altitude workers in the Karakoram. He had summited Nanga Parbat without supplemental oxygen in 2025, in addition to K2, Gasherbrum I, and Gasherbrum II.
The international clients included Mallory Geis, 39, a travel photographer and pilates studio owner from San Antonio, Texas, for whom Broad Peak marked her first attempt on an 8,000-meter peak; Nadhira Al Harthy, 48, the first Omani woman to summit Everest (2019) and a geology teacher who was pursuing her own 14 Peak Project; and Wang Zhong of China, who had already reached eleven 8,000-meter summits and would have made Broad Peak his thirteenth.
The Nepali guide team included some of the industry's most experienced professionals: Pur Bahadur "Yukta" Gurung, an IFMGA-certified guide with 28 ascents of 8,000-meter peaks; Kili Pemba "Kilu" Sherpa, who had completed all 14 eight-thousanders; Gyalu Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks; and Nima Sherpa and Nawang Thindu Sherpa.
Rescue Operations & Challenges
Search-and-rescue operations began immediately on Friday, July 31, coordinated by the Alpine Club of Pakistan with support from Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters, high-altitude drone surveillance, and local ground teams. However, extreme weather and operational conditions in the Karakoram have severely hampered efforts.
The ACP stated that "every possible effort is being made to ensure that helicopter support and all available rescue resources are mobilized at the earliest opportunity, subject to weather and operational conditions."
By midday July 31, rescue teams had confirmed the recovery of at least two bodies: Omani climber Nadhira Al Harthy and Nepali guide Pur Bahadur "Yukta" Gurung. A backpack and Garmin device belonging to Sohail Sakhi were also located at the scene.
Aerial drone footage has reportedly spotted seven of the remaining eight climbers, though their identities and conditions remain unconfirmed as ground teams continue to work under dangerous, deteriorating weather.
The tragedy has also reverberated across neighboring peaks. Multiple K2 expeditions have reportedly aborted their summit pushes to redirect resources and personnel toward the Broad Peak rescue effort, a testament to the tight-knit solidarity that defines the high-altitude community in times of crisis.
A Community Statement: On Risk, Respect, and Solidarity
To the Explorerelite.com community:
We report on expeditions, celebrate summit successes, and analyze gear and technique, but days like today force us to confront the raw reality of what we do. Broad Peak, locally known as Falchan Kangri, is often described as one of the more "accessible" eight-thousanders. Yet this tragedy is a stark reminder that there is no such thing as a forgiving 8,000-meter peak. The mountain does not distinguish between a Netflix-famous record holder and a first-time client. The mountain does not care about summit counts or sponsorship logos.
What matters now is the human cost. Ten families across Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, China, and the United States are living through an unimaginable wait. High-altitude workers, Sherpas, guides, and porters, continue to bear disproportionate risk in the shadows of headlines that often focus on foreign clients. Today, we honor them equally. Yukta Gurung was not "support staff"; he was an IFMGA-certified professional with 28 eight-thousand-meter summits. Kili Pemba Sherpa had completed the 14 Peaks. Sohail Sakhi was not merely a local fixer; he was a mathematician, an advocate, and a mentor shaping the next generation of Pakistani alpinists.
The global mountaineering community is small, interconnected, and resilient. In the coming days, we urge all readers to approach updates with sensitivity, to avoid speculation, and to remember that behind every name on a manifest is a network of parents, partners, children, and friends.
How to Help & Share Your Thoughts
We invite the Explorerelite.com community to leave tributes, well-wishes, and messages of solidarity for the families and loved ones of the Broad Peak team, If you have verified information about relief funds or support channels for the families of the Nepali and Pakistani high-altitude workers, please share those as well.
The mountains give us purpose, community, and perspective. Today, they have taken from us. We stand with the families, the rescue teams, and every member of the global outdoor family holding their breath for news from the Karakoram.
This is a developing story. We will continue to update this article as verified information becomes available.
Reference Links & Sources
- Outside Online: Nirmal "Nims" Purja Missing After Avalanche in Pakistan
- Climbing Magazine: Who Are the 10 Climbers Missing in the Broad Peak Avalanche?
- The New York Times: 10 Climbers Feared Missing After Avalanche in Pakistan
- The Washington Post: Pakistani Rescuers Find Bodies of Missing Climbers
- ExplorersWeb: Broad Peak Search Continues, Shocked K2 Teams Abort Summit Push
- Alpine Club of Pakistan: Official statements via ACP Instagram and Gilgit-Baltistan Government Portal
