World mountaineering has suffered a heavy loss. Well-known British-Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja and five other Nepali mountain guides were killed as a result of an avalanche on Broad Peak, located in the Karakoram mountain range in Pakistan.
The tragedy occurred during a 10-person international expedition heading to Broad Peak. The expedition was led by 43-year-old Nirmal Purja. He was buried under the avalanche and lost his life.
Nirmal Purja is considered one of the most famous figures in the history of modern mountaineering. He set a world record by conquering all 14 peaks in the world above 8,000 meters in just over six months. He also led the Nepali team that was the first to conquer K2 in the winter season.
The victims of the avalanche also included experienced Sherpas — Kili Pemba Sherpa, Pur Bahadur Gurung, Gyaljen Sherpa, Nima Sherpa and Nawang Thindu Sherpa.
Kili Pemba Sherpa had recently successfully climbed all 14 eight-thousanders, achieving one of the most prestigious accomplishments in mountaineering. He had climbed Everest 15 times and had twice taken climbers who had lost both legs to the summit.
Pur Bahadur Gurung had climbed 12 of the world's 14 highest peaks and was one of the few Nepali guides with International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA) certification. In 2024, he also took part in the expedition that found a boot believed to belong to British mountaineer Andrew Irvine, who went missing on Everest in 1924.
Gyaljen Sherpa was known for summiting Kangchenjunga three times in a single season. Nima Sherpa had climbed four eight-thousanders in 2026 alone. Nawang Thindu Sherpa was recognized as one of Nepal's promising young mountain guides.
According to experts, Nirmal Purja's career played an important role in increasing international climbers' interest in the Karakoram mountains in Pakistan. Through the documentary filmed about his records and career, thousands of climbers learned about this region and developed an interest in expeditions.
Experts are stressing that the disaster on Broad Peak is a huge loss for the entire world mountaineering community. According to them, the Sherpas who died were not only guides who led clients to the summit, but also professional athletes who made great contributions to the development of modern mountaineering.
