Ten climbers feared missing after Pakistan avalanche, including Nirmal Purja

A group of eight travelers — an American citizen, a Chinese national, an Omani and five Nepali nationals — is reported missing in Pakistan’s northern mountainous region, authorities said on Tuesday. The individuals were part of a trekking expedition that departed from the town of Skardu on May 28, heading toward the high‑altitude passes of the Karakoram range. Contact with the party was lost after they failed to reach a scheduled checkpoint near the Baltoro Glacier, prompting local officials to launch a search operation.

The Pakistan Army, the Gilgit‑Baltistan police and the National Disaster Management Authority have deployed helicopters, ground teams and canine units to locate the missing trekkers, while the foreign ministries of the United States, China, Oman and Nepal have been notified and are providing consular assistance. Officials indicated that severe weather, including sudden snowfall and landslides, may have contributed to the disappearance, but the exact cause remains under investigation. The search effort continues, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward as they work to determine the status of the eight missing nationals.