Islamabad Vigil Honors 10 Climbers Killed in Broad Peak Avalanche

Industry Pulse News Desk · 2026-08-11

Mourners and diplomats gathered in Pakistan’s capital to pay tribute to 10 climbers killed in a recent avalanche on Broad Peak.

ISLAMABAD — Mountaineers, diplomats, and members of civil society gathered in Pakistan’s capital on Tuesday evening for a candlelight vigil honoring 10 climbers who were killed in a massive avalanche on Broad Peak late last month. Mourners convened on the open grounds of a local sports complex in Islamabad despite heavy rain to light candles and remember the international expedition members.

The memorial service comes days after high-altitude search and recovery teams formally concluded their operations on the mountain, which stands as the world's 12th-highest peak. Search teams managed to recover the remains of eight climbers following the July 30 disaster, while two bodies remain missing on the upper slopes due to persistent severe weather.

Six of the deceased climbers were from Nepal, including renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja. Nepalese Ambassador to Pakistan Rita Dhital attended Tuesday's gathering, speaking to attendees and confirming that the recovered remains of all six Nepalese victims have been successfully repatriated to their families.

During the ceremony, officials commended the Pakistani rescuers and mountaineers who risked their lives in hazardous atmospheric conditions to search for the missing expedition. The recovery effort was spearheaded by Pakistani mountaineer Sirbaz Khan, working alongside the Alpine Club of Pakistan, civil authorities, and military forces.