Broad Peak search for bodies of 3 climbers paused

Search operations to recover the remains of climbers from the Broad Peak avalanche have been suspended due to ongoing avalanche risks, rescue officials announced on Friday. Eight days of efforts were dedicated to locating the bodies of Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, American climber Sarah Mallory Geis, and Nepalese climber Nawang Thindu Sherpa.

Ayaz Shigri, General Secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, disclosed that a leg believed to belong to Geis had been recovered, while Sherpa's body remained inaccessible due to its location in a hazardous, avalanche-prone area. Rescue missions will restart once weather conditions improve and the area becomes safe, according to Shigri and Major General (retd) Irfan Arshad Khan, President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan.

In the meantime, the bodies of five foreign climbers who perished in the avalanche were transported from Skardu to Islamabad for repatriation on a private flight. The deceased were honored with their national flags at Islamabad's airport before being transferred to a local mortuary for the final stages of repatriation. Shah Gillani, Airport Manager, and Muhammad Rashid, ASF Chief Security Officer, led the airport officials who received the bodies.

The deceased climbers' remains will be repatriated to their respective countries; Sherpa's body will be sent to Nepal, while Pakistan's Nirmal Purja will be repatriated to the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Chinese climber Zhong's family is anticipated in Islamabad to collect his body.