Shigar (Gilgit-Baltistan): Celebrated Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja has gone missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Gilgit-Baltistan, a part of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
The 43-year-old world renowned climber was among the 10 people who went missing after an avalanche struck the peak in the Karakoram range, as reported by Mint.
Purja, also known as Nims Dai, made history by becoming the first person to reach the summits of Mt Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu within 48 hours.
A former British Special Forces member, Purja scripted history in 2019 by climbing all of the world’s 14 peaks over 8,000 meters in a record 189 days. This achievement featured in the Netflix documentary, “14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible.”
The Gurkha, known for his resilience, leadership, and determination, had set off on an international mountaineering expedition on July 29 in Shigar district of Gilgit-Baltistan. He was leading a 10-member expedition to Broad Peak when the tragedy struck.
He shared a post on Instagram four days ago, before embarking on his next major adventure. “Broad Peak, I ask for nothing but safe passage up and back down. I take zero mountains for granted. Not one. The moment my foot leaves basecamp, it’s 100%. Always has been. Always will be. This one is dedicated to everyone who carried me here,” he posted.
It was shared after the mountaineer became the first person in history to climb all 14 summits of 8000 m twice, without oxygen.
He became the first Gurkha to join the Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service (SBS) in 2009 and served as a cold-weather warfare specialist. To focus full-time on high-altitude mountaineering, he resigned as a Lance Corporal in 2018 and also declined a surprise invitation to join the Special Air Service (SAS).
Purja’s latest expedition was organized by Karakoram Expeditions, Imagine Climb Pakistan and the Blue Sky Trek & Tours Company.
The deaths of three of his fellow mountaineers – Oman’s Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, US’ Sarah Mallory and Nepal’s Pur Bahadur Gurung – have already been confirmed.
While a total of four bodies were recovered from the site, the identity of the fourth individual is yet to be established, AP reported.
The climbing team last contacted at 9 am on July 30, authorities said. The fatal avalanche hit Broad Peak when the team was ascending from Camp-II to Camp-III at an approximate altitude of 6,600 meters.
Search operations are underway.