Body of famed mountaineer Nirmal Purja found on Broad Peak after avalanche

Published Aug 2, 11:26 AM UTC

The body of renowned Nepalese-British mountaineer Nirmal Purja was discovered on August 2, 2026, three days after an avalanche swept him and nine other climbers away on Broad Peak in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan. The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed that Purja's body was found at approximately 5,700 meters, along with three additional bodies whose identities are unconfirmed. So far, five bodies have been recovered, with efforts ongoing to locate the remaining five. The avalanche struck on July 30, 2026, affecting climbers from Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, the United States, and China. Purja, 43, was famous for climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in six months and six days in 2019. Recovery operations face challenges due to difficult terrain, avalanche risk, and poor weather preventing helicopter use.