Climbing company confirms mountaineer Nirmal Purja killed in Pakistan avalanche
Renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja and several team members have died following a powerful avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. Rescue operations are currently underway to recover the remaining expedition members amidst challenging weather conditions.
Why it matters
The death of a high-profile mountaineer like Purja highlights the extreme risks associated with high-altitude climbing and the logistical challenges of search and rescue in remote mountainous regions.
Renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja died with other team members in a powerful avalanche in Pakistan, his climbing company confirmed on Saturday (August 1, 2026), after rescuers recovered the remains of three climbers from the 10-strong expedition during a high-altitude search.
The avalanche struck on Thursday (July 30), cutting off contact with the international expedition led by 43-year-old British-Nepali climber Purja on Broad Peak in northern Pakistan.
"It is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak," Purja's company Elite Expeditions said on social media.
"We have also received confirmation that other members of the expedition sadly did not survive," it added.
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