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Nepal mourns Nirmal Purja and other climbers killed in Broad Peak avalanche

An avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak has killed 10 expedition members, including British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja and five other Nepalese mountaineers.

  • The avalanche on Broad Peak killed all 10 members of an expedition, six of whom were Nepalese.
  • Among the deceased was Nirmal Purja, known for climbing the world's 14 tallest peaks in just over six months.
  • Other notable Nepalese climbers killed include Pur Bahadur Gurung, who summitted Everest 10 times, and Kili Pemba Sherpa, part of a historic K2 winter expedition.

Tributes are being paid across Nepal following an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak that claimed the lives of 10 expedition members. Six of the deceased were Nepalese, including the celebrated British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, also known as Nims.

Mr Purja gained international recognition for scaling the world's 14 tallest peaks in just over six months, a feat documented in a 2021 Netflix documentary. Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah was among those who offered condolences, stating that Mr Purja's "history of courage, dedication and contribution will always remain inspiring."

The 10-member team, which also included climbers from the US, China, Oman, and Pakistan, went missing last Thursday after being caught in an avalanche on the 8,047m (26,400ft) peak. Other prominent Nepalese climbers killed in the disaster include Pur Bahadur Gurung, an Everest veteran with 10 summits, and Kili Pemba Sherpa, who was part of a historic all-Nepali winter expedition to K2 in 2021.

Mr Purja, who served 16 years in the British military and was awarded an MBE in 2018, had faced allegations of sexual misconduct in 2024, which he denied through his lawyer.

Why this matters: The deaths of Nirmal Purja and other prominent climbers represent a significant loss to the global mountaineering community and to Nepal, where these figures are celebrated for their achievements and for highlighting Nepali climbing guides.

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