A group of climbers including world-renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja are missing following an avalanche on a mountain in Pakistan, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said in a statement.
Search and rescue operations are underway to find the 10 climbers, including Purja and one American, who are believed to be have been on Broad Peak, a 8,047-meter-tall mountain in Pakistan’s Karakoram range, when an avalanche struck around midday Thursday, the Alpine Club said.
Two army helicopters have been deployed to help with the search, Alpine Club general secretary Ayaz Ahmed Shigri said.
Rescue teams had recovered two bodies at the scene, according to Thaneshwar Guragai, general manager of expedition company Seven Summit Treks, which had three climbers on the mountain. The bodies have not been identified, Guragai said.
Along with Purja and American Mallory Geis, the group included climbers from Oman, Pakistan and Nepal, according to the Alpine Club.
