Broad Peak search for bodies of 3 climbers paused

Search operations to recover the bodies of three climbers who perished in a Broad Peak avalanche have been halted due to the ongoing threat of additional avalanches, rescue officials announced on Friday. The mission to locate the remains of Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, as well as American climber Sarah Mallory Geis and Nepalese climber Nawang Thindu Sherpa, was suspended after eight days of tireless efforts.

A leg believed to belong to Geis had already been recovered, but Sherpa's body remained inaccessible due to the hazardous avalanche-prone region it was found in. Rescue efforts are expected to recommence once the weather improves and the area is deemed safe.

Major General (Retired) Irfan Arshad Khan, President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP), confirmed the suspension and stated that rescue teams would return to Broad Peak when conditions permit. In a separate development, the bodies of five foreign climbers who died in the same avalanche were flown from Skardu to Islamabad on Friday for repatriation to their home countries.

The deceased climbers were honored with a flag ceremony before being transferred to a local mortuary in Skardu. The bodies were later handed over to airport authorities by the Pakistan Army and will remain there until the necessary repatriation procedures are finalized.

Among the deceased were three climbers from Nepal, with their remains to be returned to their country, and British mountaineer Nirmal Purja, whose body will be sent to the United Kingdom. Chinese climber Zhong’s family is anticipated to arrive in Islamabad to claim his remains.