Nepal mountaineer Nirmal 'Nims' Purja confirmed dead in avalanche on Broad peak in PoK
Renowned mountaineer Nirmal 'Nims' Purja has died following an avalanche on Broad Peak in the Karakoram range. The tragedy also claimed the lives of his climbing partners and guides during an expedition in July 2026.
Why it matters
Purja was a world-famous figure in the mountaineering community, and his death marks a significant loss for the sport of high-altitude climbing.
Nirmal “Nims Dai” Purja, the legendary Nepal-born mountaineer who climbed all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks in a record six months and six days, has been confirmed dead after an avalanche struck his expedition on PoK’s Broad Peak.Purja, 43, was confirmed dead on Saturday by his expedition company Elite Exped, ending a two-day search operation after the avalanche swept a group of climbers down the 8,047-metre mountain on Thursday.“It is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak,” Elite Exped said in a statement.The company also confirmed the deaths of Purja’s climbing partners and guides, Pur Bahadur Gurung, known as “Yukta”, and Nima Sherpa.
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