GILGIT: The bodies of five more mountaineers who lost their lives in the Broad Peak avalanche were brought to Skardu on Thursday, where officials, military authorities and members of the Alpine Club of Pakistan paid tribute to the deceased during a reception ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Speaker Imran Nadeem, civil and military officials, representatives of the Alpine Club of Pakistan and local dignitaries, who honoured the climbers for their courage and achievements.

Following the ceremony, the bodies were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Skardu to complete legal and administrative formalities before repatriation.

Officials said the coffins were draped in the national flags of the climbers’ respective countries and accorded an official farewell. The bodies have now been prepared for transportation to their home countries.

The latest recovery operation brings the total number of bodies transported to Skardu to eight.

The tragedy occurred on July 30, when an avalanche struck a 10-member international expedition on Broad Peak, severing contact with the climbers.

Among those killed was renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, celebrated for becoming the fastest person to summit the world’s 14 highest peaks. His company confirmed his death along with those of the expedition members earlier this month.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan had earlier announced the successful recovery of the bodies of Nirmal Purja, Chinese climber Zhong Wang, and Nepali climbers Nima Sherpa and Kilu Sherpa following an exceptionally difficult and technically demanding rescue operation.

A search team transported the four bodies to Broad Peak Base Camp on Wednesday before they were later airlifted to Skardu.

Authorities said search efforts are continuing for the remaining two missing climbers, including Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, whose body has yet to be recovered.