Disasters & Incidents
Nirmal Purja mourned at Nepal vigil after avalanche
Hundreds of people held a candlelight vigil in Kathmandu on Tuesday for 10 climbers killed by an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak, including British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja and six elite Nepali guides.
Buddhist monks chanted prayers as about 500 mourners lit candles and incense in a square in the Nepali capital. The gathering observed a minute's silence in front of a banner showing photographs of the 10 climbers.
"Nepal has lost a generation of accomplished mountaineers," said Tul Singh Gurung, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association. International mountain guide Man Raj Gurung called the deaths a major loss for Nepal's mountaineering sector.
In Pakistan, local experts and Nepali guides continued efforts to recover bodies. The Alpine Club of Pakistan said on Sunday that a ground rescue team was transporting four bodies, including those of Purja, two other Nepali nationals and a Chinese citizen, down from the mountain.
Purja, 43, became one of modern mountaineering's best-known figures after climbing the world's 14 highest peaks in just over six months in 2019, breaking a previous record of seven years. In 2021, he was part of the all-Nepali team that completed the first winter ascent of K2, the world's second-highest mountain.
The avalanche has drawn tributes from the climbing community and public figures including Britain's Prince William. People also gathered earlier at Purja's former school in Nepal and in his hometown of Ramnagar to mourn him.
Update
Hundreds of people held a candlelight vigil in Nepal's capital on Tuesday for the 10 climbers killed on Broad Peak.
About 500 mourners lit candles and incense as Buddhist monks chanted prayers.
The victims included Nirmal Purja and six elite Nepali guides.
Local experts and Nepali guides continued recovery work in Pakistan.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said on Sunday that a ground team was transporting four bodies, including those of Purja, two other Nepali nationals and a Chinese citizen, down from the mountain.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 14:21:01 UTC.
Update
Students, teachers and friends gathered at Small Heaven School in Chitwan district to mourn Nirmal Purja.
A school friend said people had prayed while Purja was missing.
Teachers and former school staff described Purja as fearless, disciplined and honest as a child.
The item says Purja studied at the school for eight years before later joining the British Gurkhas.
The item adds that Purja scaled the world's 14 highest peaks in just over six months in 2019 and was part of the all-Nepali first winter ascent of K2 in 2021.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 17:49:21 UTC.
Update
Ayaz Shigri of the Alpine Club of Pakistan said rescuers were transporting four bodies from Broad Peak, including Nirmal Purja, two other Nepali nationals and a Chinese citizen.
Shigri said rescuers had confirmed one additional body at a significantly higher elevation, but that conditions made a recovery attempt unlikely at this stage.
Purja had written on X on Monday that he was close to becoming the first person to climb all 14 “super peaks” twice without oxygen.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 11:01:13 UTC.
Update
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said rescuers recovered Nirmal Purja's body at about 5,700 metres on Broad Peak.
Alpine Club general secretary Ayaz Shigri said Purja's body and three others had been recovered.
The rescue operation was made more difficult by bad weather.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 09:59:46 UTC.
Update
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said rescuers found Nirmal Purja's body.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 09:23:53 UTC.
Update
Pakistan officials said four bodies had been recovered so far and the search was continuing on Saturday in adverse weather.
The expedition was made up of 10 people: Nirmal Purja, five Nepalis, a Pakistani, an Omani, an American and a climber from China.
Naila Kiani from Pakistan's Alpine Club told Le Monde that tracking data indicated the climbers were thrown hundreds of metres down the mountainside.
Climber Fida Ali said he had been part of the expedition in its initial stages but returned early with an exhausted Russian climber.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 17:36:05 UTC.
Update
Nepal mourned Nirmal Purja, with Prime Minister Balendra Shah paying tribute to him and the other climbers who died.
A billboard in Kathmandu displayed Purja's picture and a remembrance message.
Nepali and international mountaineering figures, including Ishwori Poudel, Tul Singh Gurung, Gelje Sherpa and Reinhold Messner, paid tribute to Purja.
The item states that Purja was killed alongside nine other climbers.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 17:00:37 UTC.
Update
Purja's climbing company issued a social media statement confirming his death after the Broad Peak avalanche.
The item adds fuller background on Purja's military service, mountaineering records, 2021 K2 winter ascent, Netflix documentary and expedition company.
Purja had written shortly before the avalanche that he was close to climbing all 14 “super peaks” twice without oxygen.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 12:43:38 UTC.
Update
Elite Expeditions confirmed Nirmal Purja died after the avalanche on Broad Peak.
The company said other expedition members also did not survive.
The regional government said recovered remains flown for formal identification included an American woman, an Omani woman and a Nepali man.
Police said high-altitude porters and rescue teams were continuing the operation for a second day after difficult weather paused the search.
Regional authorities said the avalanche struck at about 6,600 metres while the team was ascending Broad Peak.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 12:22:10 UTC.
Update
Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah said the avalanche deaths included six Nepalese and four other foreign climbers.
Shah offered condolences and said the deaths had shocked Nepal.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 12:01:30 UTC.
Update
Nepal Prime Minister Shah offered condolences over Nirmal Purja's death.
The prime minister described the death as tragic.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 11:50:28 UTC.
Update
Nirmal Purja's expedition company said he had been confirmed dead after the Pakistan avalanche.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 11:29:44 UTC.
Update
Purja completed the world's 14 highest peaks in just over six months in 2019, breaking a previous record of seven years.
His 2019 climbing project was chronicled in a 2021 Netflix documentary.
Purja served with Britain's Brigade of Gurkhas and later the Special Boat Squadron before becoming a full-time mountaineer and guide.
Purja helped complete the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021 with nine other Nepali climbers.
Purja has faced criticism over his use of guides, oxygen, fixed ropes and helicopters between base camps.
In 2024, two women mountaineers accused Purja of sexual harassment and assault; he denied the allegations.
Purja has funded education, mountain clean-ups and a porters' house on the Everest route through his foundation.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 08:22:26 UTC.
Update
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said rescuers with geolocation devices had been sent to search for the missing climbers.
Alpine Club general secretary Ayaz Shigri said GPS had traced the locations of four climbers.
China's foreign ministry said it was urgently working to verify the situation and was willing to assist Pakistan.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 07:45:30 UTC.
Update
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said two Pakistan Army helicopters carrying rescue personnel and specialised equipment had been sent to support the search operation.
The helicopters were described as reinforcing ground efforts in a high-altitude environment.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 04:34:25 UTC.
Update
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said the expedition comprised 10 people, including five Nepalese, a Pakistani, an Omani, an American, a climber from China and one other foreigner.
The club said efforts were being made to mobilise helicopter support and rescue resources, subject to weather and operational conditions.
Nirmal Purja is 43 and previously served with Britain's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Royal Marines' Special Boat Squadron.
Purja climbed all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres in six months and six days in 2019 and was part of the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 03:44:32 UTC.
Update
The Alpine Club of Pakistan said the avalanche struck a team on Broad Peak in the Karakoram mountain range.
The club said Broad Peak is 8,047 metres high.
The club said the climbing team was led by Nepal-born Nirmal Purja and could not be reached after the incident.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 03:01:41 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The number of bodies still awaiting recovery on Tuesday is not specified.
The cause of the avalanche is not stated.
Source
AFP news report published on .