Mountaineer Nirmal Purja killed in Broad Peak avalanche in Pakistan

Renowned high‑altitude climber Nirmal “Nims” Purja, famed for summiting all 14 eight‑thousand‑meter peaks in a record 189 days, died on Broad Peak in Pakistan after an avalanche struck the expedition he was leading. The incident occurred while Purja guided a party of ten climbers on the mountain’s north‑west ridge, one of the Karakoram’s most challenging routes. Rescue teams reached the site within hours, but the avalanche’s force left little chance of survival for the lead guide and several members of the group.

The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of condolences from the global mountaineering community, highlighting Purja’s influence on modern high‑altitude climbing and his role in promoting safety and teamwork on extreme expeditions. Authorities in the Gilgit‑Baltistan region have opened an investigation into the conditions that led to the slide, while the climbing community mourns the loss of a figure whose achievements reshaped the sport.