Mingma David Sherpa, Three-Member Nepali Team Set to Travel to Pakistan for Nims Purja Search

Kathmandu-A three-member Nepali rescue team, including renowned mountaineer Mingma David Sherpa, is set to travel to Pakistan to join the search and rescue operation for world-famous Nepali climber Nirmal Purja (Nims Dai) and others who went missing after being caught in an avalanche on Broad Peak.

Mingma David Sherpa, who is also a member of Nepal’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and a business partner in Nirmal Purja’s Elite Exped expedition company, told Setopati that he would leave for Pakistan on Friday via Qatar.

The rescue team will also include a helicopter pilot with extensive experience in high-altitude rescue operations. According to Mingma David, several people from the United Kingdom have already traveled to Pakistan to assist in the search for Purja.

Meanwhile, Elite Exped’s expedition team, which had been making its way toward the summit of K2, has suspended its climbing plans and redirected its efforts toward Broad Peak to support the rescue mission.

Mingma David said that although a rescue helicopter had reached the incident site, it had not yet returned. He added that weather conditions remain favorable, which is why the climbing expedition had originally gone ahead.

He also expressed hope for a positive outcome, claiming that Nirmal Purja’s satellite tracking data is still showing signs of activity. According to him, this has given the search and rescue teams additional reason to remain optimistic.

The avalanche struck Broad Peak on Thursday, leaving 10 climbers missing, including six Nepalis, one Pakistani, one Omani, one Chinese, and one American. Authorities have so far confirmed the recovery of four bodies, while search and rescue operations for the remaining climbers continue.