KATHMANDU: A courageous rescue team, led by renowned Nepali mountaineer Mingma G, has successfully recovered the bodies of three climbers, including Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja, who had been stranded at 5,000 meters on Broad Peak following a massive avalanche a week ago.

After spending hours navigating the treacherous slopes on the Concordia side of the mountain, the team brought the three bodies down to a flatter area today (August 5), officials confirmed. The recovery team was led by Mingma G with support from Sirbaz Khan, Abid Baig, Dipan Gurung and Pemba Chhewang Sherpa among a few other ground staff. Pakistan Alpine Club also confirmed the recovery without divulging details. 

Mingma G’s team comprising Nepali and Pakistani rescuers set out from base camp this morning and reached the 5,000-meter mark where the bodies of Purja, Nima Sherpa, and Chinese climber Wang Zhong lay, within a couple of hours.

"Three bodies were retrieved and brought down to the flatter area, where two other bodies - those of Kili Pemba Sherpa 'Kilu' and Gyalu Sherpa - have been kept since Sunday," the rescuers shared. They described it as one of the most harrowing recovery missions ever conducted, successfully executed under Mingma G's able leadership.

Due to persistently unfavorable weather, the team is currently awaiting a helicopter to ferry all five bodies to Skardu. "Once the weather permits, they will be airlifted from the mountain base," they added. The funeral of renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, popularly known as Nimsdai, who tragically died in an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak, will take place in the United Kingdom. The government is being asked to declare Nimsdai as ‘National Luminary’. Lawmaker and Elite Exped co owner Mingma Gyabu Sherpa is now in Pakistan to facilitate recovery and repatriation missions.

The recovery site, where the three bodies had been trapped for days, is highly dangerous and prone to frequent avalanches. "The team showed immense bravery to complete this daunting mission," the mountaineering fraternity said in reaction.

Earlier, in an exclusive interview with The Tourism Times, Mingma G, an IFMGA/UIAGM-certified mountaineer, stated that he would do his utmost to honor the global mountaineering community's concerns by resuming ground recovery efforts. His team had been unable to move on Tuesday due to adverse weather. "Today, they have delivered on Mingma G's commitment," officials said. Mingma G’s team remained the only crew on the mountain dedicated to the recovery. "While a long-line helicopter recovery seems like the only option, I decided to try from the ground, understanding the sorrow and wishes of the deceased climbers' loved ones," Mingma G had previously stated.

The three bodies recovered today were located at 5,000 meters on the Concordia side, following Sunday's recovery of four bodies from 5,700 meters. The remains of Kili Pemba Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa had already been moved to the flat area.

Earlier, the bodies of Omani climber Nadhira Al Harthy and Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta), along with a human leg belonging to American climber Mallory Geis, were airlifted to Skardu on Friday. Another victim, Nawang Thindhu Sherpa, could not be retrieved, as his body is reportedly situated in a precarious position above 6,000 meters. Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, who perished in the July 30 avalanche, is still missing.

The massive avalanche, which struck just below Camp III on Thursday morning, claimed the lives of 10 climbers during their summit push on the world’s 12th-highest peak. This marks one of the deadliest mountaineering disasters in the Karakoram region.