Mountaineer Nirmal Purja is reported missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Gilgit-Baltistan on July 31, leaving at least four dead and 10 missing. Two deceased climbers have been identified as Nadhira Al Harthy and Pur Bahadur Gurung; U.S. climber Mallory Geis is also reported missing. Authorities and the Alpine Club of Pakistan say helicopter and ground rescue teams are mobilized, but operations are limited by weather and safety conditions.
Netflix-Star Mountaineer Nirmal Purja Reported Missing After Deadly Broad Peak Avalanche
Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja attends the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards at Verti Music Hall on February 17, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images for Laureus) (Getty Images)
Fans and rescuers are anxiously searching for Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region on July 31. Authorities say at least four people were killed and 10 more remain missing after the disaster, and Purja is among those unaccounted for.
Nirmal completed the summit of 14 peaks towering above 8,000 meters without oxygen in 2019 (Getty Images)
Rescue Efforts Underway
The Gilgit-Baltistan Police confirmed in a statement that four bodies were recovered while search operations continued. The Alpine Club of Pakistan later identified two of the deceased as Nadhira Al Harthy of Oman and Pur Bahadur Gurung of Nepal. Officials say all relevant Pakistani agencies are supporting immediate search-and-rescue operations, and that helicopter support and other rescue resources are being mobilized subject to weather and operational constraints.
The climber has been married to his wife Suchi Purja since 2006 (Getty Images)
Who Is Nirmal Purja?
Nirmal Purja, 43, is a Nepalese climber who rose to international prominence after appearing in the 2021 Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. In 2019 he completed ascents of the world’s 14 highest peaks without supplementary oxygen, finishing the series in 189 days. He has a large social-media following and frequently posts updates from his expeditions.
Broad Peak, is world's twelfth tallest mountain in the Karakoram range of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan (Getty Images)
Expedition Details and Missing Team Members
Purja was part of an international expedition organized with the Alpine Club of Pakistan that included climbers from Nepal, China, Pakistan, Oman and the United States. Also reported missing is American climber Mallory Geis, 39, who was attempting her first ascent of Broad Peak on this expedition.
Among the missing climbers is American Mallory Geis (Instagram)
Broad Peak: A Treacherous Summit
Broad Peak sits in the Karakoram range on the Pakistan–China border and is the world’s 12th-highest mountain at roughly 26,400 feet above sea level. First climbed in 1957, the peak has a long history of deadly attempts. BBC reporting, citing NASA data, noted 404 successful ascents and 21 deaths as of March 2012, with additional fatalities in subsequent years; the July avalanche highlights the mountain’s continued dangers.
Public Reaction
The news of Purja’s disappearance prompted an outpouring of concern online. On his most recent Instagram post, followers posted messages such as 'Nims pls come back alive' and 'Come back home safe, Nims and team. We are all waiting for good news.' The Alpine Club of Pakistan has urged caution while emphasizing that every possible effort is being made to locate missing climbers.
Authorities warn that weather and operational conditions will affect the pace and scope of helicopter and ground rescue operations.
Rescue teams continue to work under difficult conditions to locate survivors and recover those who died. Further updates are expected as search operations progress and more information becomes available.
Help us improve.
