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Legendary mountaineer Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja has died in a Broad Peak avalanche, with his expedition company confirming that several other climbers also lost their lives.
Nirmal Purja, the world-renowned Nepali mountaineer, dies.
Nirmal Purja News: Renowned mountaineer Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja, who went missing two days ago in an avalanche on Broad Peak, has died, his expedition company Elite Exped confirmed on Saturday. He had been missing, along with five other climbers, since Thursday after an avalanche struck their team during the expedition at the world’s 12th highest mountain peak in Pakistan.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Elite Exped said it was announcing the news with “profound sadness and immense heartbreak”. The company also confirmed that other members of the expedition had lost their lives in the tragedy.
“We mourn not only Nims, but every life lost in this tragedy, including his trusted climbing partners and guides, Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta) and Nima Sherpa,” the company said. It extended condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who died and requested privacy for them during this difficult time.
Broad Peak is located in the Karakoram mountain range, close to K2, along the border of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and China’s Xinjiang region. According to the company, the avalanche occurred on the mountain’s standard West Ridge route at an altitude of around 21,600 to 21,850 feet.
Paying tribute to Purja, Elite Exped described him as one of the greatest climbers in the history of mountaineering. The company said he inspired millions through his courage, humility and belief that people can achieve far more than they imagine.
“More than his extraordinary achievements, he wanted to show the world what was possible when you dared to dream bigger, believed in yourself and refused to accept limitations,” the statement said.
Nirmal Purja: The Gurkha Who Made The Impossible Look Ordinary
Nirmal Purja, the mountaineer who changed how the world looked at Nepali climbers, has died in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak. He was 43. His death was confirmed on Saturday by Elite Exped, the expedition company he founded.
Known to the world as Nims, Purja was born in Nepal and served as a Gurkha soldier in the British forces before turning to full-time climbing in 2018. In 2019, he climbed all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres in six months and six days, smashing a record that had earlier taken climbers years. In 2024, he became the fastest to do it again without bottled oxygen.
He was also part of the Nepali team that made the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021.
The Netflix film “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible” took his story to living rooms far beyond the climbing world.
He built Elite Exped and the Nimsdai Foundation and pushed for better pay and recognition for Nepali high-altitude workers. He was on Broad Peak hoping to become the first person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders twice.
Nirmal Purja: How Did He Go Missing?
Two avalanches hit his team below Camp III on Thursday, July 30, sweeping away at least 10 climbers. The group was moving up from Camp II when it struck, and all contact was lost immediately.
His Garmin watch showed a fall of roughly 2,000 feet, and rescuers said survival chances were very slim. Drone searches on Saturday located five bodies near Camp 1, and a ground team led by Mingma G and Sirbaz Khan confirmed the identities.
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Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can …Read More
August 01, 2026, 17:35 IST
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