TIME LINE - Avalanche on Broad Peak
TIME LINE - Avalanche on Broad Peak: Tragedy July 30, 2026
The time line compiled from official government records, the Pakistan Alpine Club, and significant international media describes the events surrounding the deadly avalanche on Broad Peak, which claimed the lives of 10 climbers, including the legendary climber Nirmal Purji "Nimsdai".
📅 Key events
June 29: A ten-member international expedition arrived in Skardu to attempt to climb Broad Peak (8,047 m). The expedition was led by Elite Exped.
July 22–25: Heavy snowfall increased the risk of avalanches. Most of the climbing teams abandoned their attempts to climb the summit and left the main camp, while the Elite Exped team stayed.
July 30 – 5:33: GPS tracking showed that the team was descending from an altitude of approximately 6,166 m.
Around 7: Climbers reached an altitude of about 6,430 m.
Around 9:00: The last normal GPS signals were recorded near 6,660 m. Tour operators reportedly made contact with the team.
Around 9:20–9:30: A massive avalanche swept away all 10 climbers from the slope between Camp 2 and Camp 3, carrying them more than 2,000 steps down.
9:30 – 20:00: During this period, no documented rescue operations or emergency interventions were recorded.
20:00: The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan states that the avalanche was first reported, although it does not specify who.
Around 22:00: The Pakistani Alpine Club states that they first learned about the disaster about 13 hours after the avalanche.
July 31 – 8:30: Official rescue operations were launched based on a formal request from the expedition organizers – almost 23 hours after the avalanche.
July 31: Helicopter rescue teams were deployed. The bodies of Nadhir Al Harthy (Oman), Pura Bahadur "Yukty" Gurung (Nepal), and Sarah Mallory Geis (USA) were found earlier, before bad weather halted operations.
August 1: Search operations were resumed. Elite Exped confirmed the death of Nirmal Purji and all remaining team members. The Nepalese Prime Minister also confirmed the death of six Nepalese climbers.
August 2: Search teams during ongoing rescue operations found more bodies, including Nirmal Purji, Kili Pemby Sherpy, Nimy Sherpy, and Wang Zhonga.