After climbing all 14 of the world’s highest mountains in record time, Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja chased one final dream; a 2026 avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak claimed his life

“Giving up is not my blood, Sir”/Instagram

“I was told that my plan was impossible. So I decided to name it Project Possible”.It will be considered a black day in the world of mountaineering. The world has lost one of its greatest modern legends, Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja. The Nepal-born climber didn’t have ‘impossible’ word in his life’s dictionary. He challenged himself, nature every day and won; but late July 2026, the mountaineer died after a devastating avalanche struck Pakistan’s Broad Peak in the Karakoram range. Pujara was only 43 and his immediate family consists of his wife, Suchi Purja, and their young daughter, Himani (born in 2022).For travellers, trekkers, and mountaineers across the globe, Nimsdai was much more than a record-breaking climber. He is an inspiration to a new generation to look beyond Everest and discover the beauty of the Himalayas and Karakoram. He proved that courage, preparation, dedication and determination could rewrite mountaineering history. His early life

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With his wife, Suchi Purja/Instagram

Pujara was born on July 25, 1983 in the Myagdi district of western Nepal. He came from a modest Gurkha family. But his journey was beyond fancy. During his early life, he served in the British Army’s elite Gurkha regiment and earned a spot in the highly respected UK Special Boat Service (SBS), one of the world’s toughest special forces units.With an incomparable discipline and mental strength, Pujara dedicated himself to climbing after leaving the army and within a few years, he achieved what many considered impossible.World’s 14 highest peaks in just 189 days In 2019, Nimsdai became a global icon after he completed Project Possible. It is summiting all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in only 189 days (6 months and 6 days), a record that matters. The achievement broke the previous world record of nearly eight years.His route included:

Now, this achievement wasn’t only about speed. It tested patience, endurance and resilience. Crossing multiple countries, surviving some of the world’s deadliest mountains, enduring unpredictable weather is a challenge.The story reached millions through the Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. It made Pujara famous on a global level. The historic winter ascent of K2One of his historic ascents is Project Possible which made Purja further famous. His 2021 winter ascent of K2 cemented his place among mountaineering’s greatest legends. Standing atop 8,611 metres, K2 in Pakistan is regarded by many climbers as a lot more difficult than Everest. It is because of its steep landscape, and unpredictable weather.In January 2021, Purja led a team of ten Nepali climbers that achieved the first-ever winter summit of K2. Another milestone celebrated across the global climbing community.Life saver for many

Nimsdai/Instagram

Purja was not just an extraordinary mountaineer but his legacy extends far beyond world records. Throughout his career, he repeatedly risked his own life to rescue fellow climbers stranded in the “death zone” above 8,000 metres. His one of the most famous rescues came on Annapurna. He helped save a stranded climber under extremely dangerous conditions and assisted several expeditions with emergency support.Few climbers have influenced tourism the way Nimsdai did. His success sparked renewed global interest in Nepal’s trekking routes, mountaineering expeditions, and Himalayan culture. Adventure enthusiasts who once dreamed only of Everest began exploring destinations such as Annapurna, Manaslu, Mustang, Langtang, and the Khumbu region.How Pakistan’s Broad Peak became his last journey In July 2026, Purja came back to Pakistan’s Karakoram to attempt another ambitious objective.As per reports, he was attempting to become the first person to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks twice but destiny had something else in store. His team was climbing Broad Peak (8,051 metres), the world’s 12th-highest mountain, located near K2 in Pakistan’s spectacular Karakoram range.But on July 30, 2026, a massive avalanche swept through the route between Camps 2 and 3. As per international reports, the tragedy claimed the lives of all 10 climbers. The team comprised international team members from Nepal, the United States, Oman, Pakistan, and China.Rescue efforts involving helicopters and mountain teams were immediately launched. After days of searching, Purja’s expedition company confirmed that he had died along with fellow climbers. It became one of the deadliest mountaineering tragedies in recent years.A legacy that will continue Though “Nimsdai” left the world doing his favourite thing, his legacy will continue to inspire the young adventurers. From a Gurkha soldier to one of the greatest high-altitude climbers in history, his life demonstrated that determination, preparation, and consistency could overcome impossible.Like he said, “Giving up is not my blood, Sir”.