Pakistan: Avalanche sweeps away 10 mountaineers, including record-breaking climber Nirmal Purja
The Nepalese media are reporting two deaths and eight people missing. In 2019, Purja climbed all 14 of the world’s eight-thousanders in just over six months
from our correspondent Marco Masciaga
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NEW DELHI - An international expedition led by the renowned Nepalese-born mountaineer Nirmal Purja was swept away by an avalanche in Pakistan on Thursday.
According to the Nepalese media, of the ten mountaineers attempting to climb Broad Peak – an 8,000-metre peak that is the 12th highest mountain in the world – two have died and eight are missing. The two confirmed victims have not been identified. In addition to Purja and five Sherpas, the expedition included an American, a Chinese national, an Omani and a Pakistani.
The Islamabad army is taking part in the search with two helicopters, but the weather conditions are hampering the rescue operations.
Nirmal Purja, also known as Nims Dai, is a British citizen born in Nepal who, in 2019, climbed the world’s 14 highest mountains in just 189 days, setting the speed record at the time, which was subsequently broken in 2023 by a Norwegian climber and her Nepalese Sherpa guide.
His exploits were featured in the Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible”. Purja is a controversial figure in the world of mountaineering, not least because of allegations of sexual harassment made by two women that came to light in 2024.
