Candlelight vigil in Islamabad honors 10 climbers killed on Broad Peak

In Islamabad, Pakistan, a candlelight vigil was held on Tuesday evening to honor 10 climbers who lost their lives in an avalanche on Broad Peak. Mountaineers, diplomats, and members of civil society came together to remember the fallen, as search teams had recently recovered the remains of eight climbers. Two bodies remain unrecovered.

Notably, renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja was among the dead. Nepal's ambassador to Pakistan, Rita Dhital, attended the vigil and paid tribute to the climbers, recalling Purja's words, "Giving up is not in my blood." Dhital expressed gratitude to Pakistani climbers and rescuers who ventured onto the mountain in harsh conditions to search for the missing and recover their bodies.

Representatives from Nepal, including Dhital, highlighted the efforts of Sirbaz Khan, a prominent Pakistani mountaineer who led the recovery team, as well as the Alpine Club of Pakistan, military, and government officials involved in the operation. All six Nepalese climbers have since been returned to their families.