‘We Will Bring You Home’: Mingma G Vows Risky Mission To Recover Nirmal Purja’s Body From Broad Peak

Renowned Nepali mountaineer Mingma G has reportedly  vowed to lead a high-risk ground recovery mission to bring back the bodies of celebrated climber Nirmal Purja, popularly known as “Nimsdai”, and two fellow climbers from Pakistan’s Broad Peak, despite worsening weather and fresh avalanches hampering rescue efforts.

The bodies of Purja, Chinese climber Wang Zhong and Nima reportedly  Sherpa remain stranded at an altitude of around 5,000 metres on the Concordia side of Broad Peak following last week’s deadly avalanche, one of the worst mountaineering disasters in the Karakoram region.

Mingma G pledges recovery mission

Speaking to The Tourism Times, Mingma G reportedly said he was determined to attempt the recovery despite the dangers.

“I know the risks and challenges in the mountains, but I will try my best out of respect for my fellow legendary climbers,” he said.

The veteran climber, who became the first Nepali to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks without supplemental oxygen, also paid tribute to Purja, Wang Zhong and Kili Pemba “Kilu” Sherpa in an emotional Instagram post.

“My loving brothers Kilu, Wang and Nims. We will take you back home to see families,” he wrote.

Rescue efforts delayed by weather

Recovery operations were suspended on Tuesday after poor weather grounded helicopter flights in Pakistan’s Karakoram region.

Mingma G told Everest Chronicle that another avalanche had struck the area, making it impossible to transport the bodies to Base Camp. A planned ground recovery mission was also postponed because of persistent rainfall and unstable conditions.

He said his team remains on the mountain awaiting a safe weather window.

“All others have already left and my team is the only one here,” he told The Tourism Times.

Pakistani climber Sirbaz Khan is also believed to be on the mountain and is expected to assist in the operation.

Bodies remain in hazardous locations

According to reports, Mingma G’s team recovered four bodies from an altitude of around 5,700 metres on Sunday. The bodies of Kili Pemba Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa have since been moved to a safer section of the mountain.

However, the bodies of Nirmal Purja, Wang Zhong and Nima Sherpa remain trapped on an avalanche-prone slope at approximately 5,000 metres, making recovery extremely dangerous.

Another climber, Nawang Thindhu Sherpa, remains stranded at an inaccessible location above 6,000 metres, while Pakistani guide Sohail Sakhi is still missing.

Deadly avalanche on Broad Peak

A massive avalanche struck below Camp III during a summit push last week, killing 10 climbers in one of the deadliest mountaineering accidents in the Karakoram.

Mingma G and Nirmal Purja shared a close friendship and had climbed together on several major expeditions, including the historic first winter ascent of K2 in January 2021. Wang Zhong was also a regular member of Mingma G’s Imagine Nepal expeditions.

Meanwhile, Mingma David Sherpa, co-owner of Elite Exped, said he had met the President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan to strengthen coordination between rescue teams and authorities.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan said helicopter operations would resume on Wednesday, the seventh day of the rescue mission, if weather conditions improve.