Generated

Mountaineering icon Nirmal Purja confirmed dead after avalanche strikes expedition on Pakistan's Broad Peak

Nirmal Purja, a renowned British-Nepali mountaineer, has been confirmed dead following a devastating avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak. The 43-year-old climber, known as 'Nims,' gained international fame for summiting all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in just over six months. He led a 10-member international expedition that was swept away by a fast-moving landslide on Thursday in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. Search and recovery teams have recovered the bodies of seven climbers, including Purja, Chinese climber Zhong Wang, and Nepali climbers Nima Sherpa and Kilu Sherpa. Other confirmed fatalities include Omani climber Nadhira Al-Harthy and American climber Sarah Mallory Geis. The Alpine Club of Pakistan described the disaster as one of the country's deadliest mountaineering accidents. While the expedition faced significant challenges due to remote terrain and heavy snowfall, the recovery mission continues to be coordinated with the embassies of Nepal, Oman, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased, noting the commitment to the ongoing operation.

Sources