KATHMANDU: The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has taken a special initiative to speed up and coordinate search-and-rescue efforts for Nepali climbers missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan, the association said in a press release issued Friday.

A delegation led by NMA Acting President Ishwari Paudel met Pakistani Ambassador to Nepal Mohammad Amir Khan and senior embassy officials on Friday morning at the Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu, requesting that the search-and-rescue operation for the missing Nepali climbers be given high priority and carried out with urgency, according to the release.

The Nepali delegation included NMA Vice-President Bodh Raj Bhandari, General Secretary Rajendra Bahadur Lama, Secretary Chandan Thapa, Treasurer Sumi Lama, and member Sandesh Sherpa.

Ambassador Khan expressed sorrow over the incident and informed the delegation that search-and-rescue operations were being conducted at full scale in coordination with the Pakistani government, the Alpine Club of Pakistan, and local rescue agencies. He said all necessary efforts to make the rescue operation successful were continuing.

The NMA said it remains committed to sustained coordination and initiative with all concerned agencies for the safe rescue of the missing climbers.