Grief-stricken family members, relatives and friends broke down as the coffin of Nepali mountaineer Pur Bahadur Gurung arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Thursday. Gurung was among the seven climbers, including renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who were killed in an avalanche on Pakistan's K2 on July 30. (Pics/ AFP)
Updated On: 2026-08-06 10:12 PM IST
Compiled by : Anushree Gaikwad
Born on December 23, 1988, in northern Gorkha, Nepal, Gurung grew up surrounded by the Himalayas, which inspired his journey into mountaineering
Gurung started his mountaineering journey in 2009 as a porter and later worked as a kitchen helper for trekking and expedition teams
During his illustrious career, Gurung successfully climbed Mount Everest 10 times and completed 28 ascents of peaks above 8,000 metres
He also scaled 12 of the world’s 14 highest mountains, establishing himself as one of Nepal’s most accomplished mountaineers
In 2026, Gurung travelled to Pakistan for a mountaineering expedition with a team of Nepali climbers and Sherpa guides, including celebrated climber Nirmal Purja, Kili “Kilu” Pemba Sherpa and Nima Sherpa
On July 30, 2026, Gurung was caught in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan during the expedition. The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed on July 31 that he was among the climbers who died in the tragedy.
