Nirmal Purja and His Entire Expedition Team Die in Broad Peak Avalanche

The Avalanche

The avalanche struck at around 9 a.m. local time (some reports say noon) on July 30, 2026, below Camp III on Broad Peak's main west-facing gully, as the team was en route to the summit . Witnesses described it as a fast-moving "snow-and-ice tsunami" that engulfed the climbers . The expedition consisted of 10 climbers — Purja, five other Nepalis, a Pakistani, an Omani, an American, and a climber from China — all part of Purja's guiding company Elite Exped . Early reporting noted the team had decided to remain high on the mountain despite conditions that later proved deadly, though the full reasoning remains unclear .

Casualties and Recovery

All 10 climbers died. The Nimsdai Foundation confirmed that no one survived . Elite Exped announced on August 1 that Purja had died, ending days of uncertainty . Four bodies were recovered by Pakistani Army rescuers on Friday, July 31 . The remaining six were located later, with Purja's body among those found . He was 43 years old . Among the other climbers lost were Purja's trusted climbing partners: Pur Bahadur Gurung ("Yukta") and Nima Sherpa

Rescue Efforts

Pakistani military helicopters were dispatched to the scene, and ground rescue teams backed by the army worked to locate and retrieve the climbers . Harsh weather hampered helicopter flights, slowing the search operation . The Pakistani Army's communications arm coordinated the operation, with official statements confirming body counts .

Mountaineering Legacy

Purja shot to global fame with Project Possible (2019), climbing all 14 eight-thousanders (peaks above 8,000 m) in 6 months and 6 days — smashing the previous record by more than seven years . He was the 39th person to complete the full set . His feat was chronicled in the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, which introduced him to a wide global audience .

Purja served as a Gurkha soldier and later in the British Special Boat Service (SBS), an elite Royal Navy unit . He was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to mountaineering .

In 2021, he led the first successful winter ascent of K2 alongside an all-Nepalese team . In 2024, he set two new world records for the fastest climb of all 14 peaks without supplemental oxygen (2 years, 4 months, 28 days) . At the time of his death, his career totals stood at 52 summits of 8,000m peaks and 18 Guinness World Records .

What Happened to Nimsdai

Nirmal Purja — known affectionately as "Nimsdai" or "Nims" — died leading an expedition on the mountain that represented the next generation of his mountaineering career. His company, Elite Exped, which he co-founded, organized the fateful climb . The tragedy cut short the life of a man who had redefined what was possible in high-altitude mountaineering, leaving a legacy of records, inspiration, and a foundation dedicated to supporting Nepali communities.