'Your legacy will live forever': Nepal mourns climber Nirmal Purja

Nepal is mourning the loss of British‑Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, who died in an avalanche that struck an expedition on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, killing ten members, six of them Nepali. Purja, also known as Nims, gained international recognition for climbing the world’s 14 highest peaks in just six months. His death has reverberated through the global mountaineering community and in Nepal, where he is celebrated for highlighting the contributions of Nepali climbing guides. Prime Minister Balendra Shah paid tribute, stating Purja’s "history of courage, dedication and publication volition ever stay inspiring". On Facebook, Purja’s brother Kamal wrote, "I feel as though I have lost my whole world. My brother was not only my younger brother - he was my heart." He added, "Although our hearts are broken, we are incredibly proud of you. Your legacy will live forever," At the Small Heaven School in Chitwan district, near Kathmandu—a school Purja once attended—students and staff lit candles and held a vigil. Sarbagya Paudel, one of the students, said, "brahas acceptable a large illustration for our school. Not only has helium made our schoolhouse proud, but helium has besides brought pridefulness to Nepal". Shailendra Baral, Purja’s former school hostel supervisor, recalled to AFP that as a young boy Purja had been "fearless and committed to achieving something". Baral also said, "He was honorable and an obedient student, which made america happy. We recovered courageousness successful him adjacent erstwhile helium was a child." Bahadur Panta, a school friend of Purja, told AFP he had prayed for the mountaineer during "sleepless nights" after news of his disappearance broke. He said, "It was not lone maine and my friends. I deliberation radical each implicit the satellite who knew him... prayed for him. But it was his fate, nary 1 could debar it," Social media has been flooded with tributes, many describing Nepal as being in mourning and lamenting the loss of a "legend" and "many great climbers". One comment read, "Their bequest volition unrecorded on," Purja’s rise to global prominence followed the release of a 2021 Netflix documentary that chronicled his record‑breaking climb of the fourteen eight‑thousand