August 1, Kathmandu
The deaths of all 10 climbers, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, have been officially confirmed following Thursday’s avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range.
Four bodies were recovered on Friday, while the remaining six climbers had initially been reported missing. On Saturday, Nimsdai Foundation and Elite Exped, both founded by Purja, officially announced through social media that all 10 climbers had died.
Among the victims were six Nepali climbers, including former British Gurkha Nirmal Purja, popularly known as Nimsdai, who was born in Dana, Myagdi. The other Nepali victims are Pur Bahadur Gurung, Nima Sherpa, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Nawang Thindu Sherpa.
The four foreign climbers who died were Sohel Shakhi of Pakistan, Wang Zhong of China, Nadira Ahmad of Oman, and Mallory Geis of the United States.
Purja rose to global prominence in 2019 after setting a world record by climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in just six months and six days. He went on to achieve several other notable mountaineering records.
The avalanche reportedly swept the climbers nearly 800 meters downhill from an altitude of more than 6,000 meters. Rescue efforts were severely hampered by poor weather conditions.
House of Representatives member Mingma Gyabu (David) Sherpa, who was also Purja’s business associate, left for Pakistan on Friday.
Among the deceased Nepali climbers, Pur Bahadur Gurung was from Gorkha, Kili Pemba Sherpa from Dolakha, Gyalu Sherpa from Okhaldhunga, and Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Nima Sherpa were from Sankhuwasabha.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Balendra Shah has expressed his heartfelt tribute to Nirmal Purja and all the climbers who lost their lives in the tragedy.
-RSS
