Legendary Nepali Climber Nirmal Purja Confirmed Dead in Broad Peak Avalanche

A total of 10 climbers, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, have been officially confirmed dead after being caught in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram region on Thursday.

Of the missing climbers, the bodies of four were recovered on Friday, while six others had remained unaccounted for.

Today, the Nimsdai Foundation and Elite Exped officially confirmed through social media that all 10 climbers had lost their lives.

Among the victims were six Nepali climbers, including former British Gurkha Nirmal Purja (Nimsdai), who was born in Dana, Myagdi.

The other Nepali climbers who died were Purbahadur Gurung, Nima Sherpa, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Nawang Thindu Sherpa.

The four foreign climbers who lost their lives were Sohel Shakhi (Pakistan), Wang Zhong (China), Nadira Ahmed (Oman), and Mallory Geis (United States).

Nirmal Purja rose to global prominence in 2019 after setting a world record by climbing all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in just six months and six days.

He went on to achieve several other notable mountaineering records throughout his career.

According to reports, the avalanche swept the climbers approximately 800 meters downhill from an altitude of over 6,000 meters.

Rescue efforts were severely hampered by adverse weather conditions.

Member of Nepal’s House of Representatives Mingma Gyabu (David) Sherpa, who was also Purja’s professional associate, departed for Pakistan on Friday following the tragedy.

Among the deceased Nepali climbers, Purbahadur Gurung was from Gorkha, Kili Pemba Sherpa from Dolakha, Gyalu Sherpa from Okhaldhunga, and Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Nima Sherpa were from Sankhuwasabha.