The mountaineering world is mourning the loss of Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja after his expedition company, Elite Exped, confirmed that the legendary climber died in the Broad Peak avalanche in Pakistan. Along with confirming Purja’s death, the agency also announced that members of the expedition, including trusted guides Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta) and Nima Sherpa, had also lost their lives.
Among the many tributes pouring in, one of the most emotional came from Bengal mountaineer Shuvam Chatterjee, popularly known as Ronnie, who remembered the man he called not just his mentor, but his hero.
Also Read | Mountaineering legend Nirmal Purja ‘Nimsdai’ reportedly dead after Broad Peak avalanche
A bond forged on the mountains
Shuvam first met Nimsdai in September 2025 before his Manaslu expedition with Elite Exped. He idolised Nimsdai even before he started his mountaineer journey. In Nepal, what began as a professional association soon grew into a mentor-disciple relationship.
Under Nimsdai’s guidance, Shuvam went on to summit Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak, before achieving his dream of climbing Mount Everest, again with Elite Exped and Purja’s mentorship.
In an emotional Instagram reel featuring moments from their expeditions together, Shuvam wrote that he did not know if he would ever find the strength to climb another mountain because it felt as though his own journey had ended.
“If there is another life after this one, I pray that every single time I am born, you are there again as my only hero, my mentor, my inspiration, and my Dai,” he said.
He recalled an unfinished promise to climb together again and said every mountain he climbs in the future will carry Nimsdai’s lessons, courage and spirit.
A farewell to the man who inspired millions
Shuvam described Purja as the person who made him believe that impossible dreams could become reality. He wrote that every summit he had reached and every achievement in mountaineering had been possible because of the confidence and guidance his mentor gave him.
His tribute ended with a heartfelt farewell, saying a part of him had gone with Nimsdai and praying that if there is another life, Purja would once again be his hero, mentor and inspiration.
Elite Exped, in the official statement, mentioned that Purja was one of the greatest climbers of mountaineering who possessed great courage and belief in the potential of humans and whose legacy would continue to inspire millions of people across the world.
The company asked for privacy for the family members of all the people who lost their lives in this tragic accident.
Purja became an icon in the whole world after climbing all 14 highest mountains in just over six months in 2019 by his record-breaking Project Possible.
Later, his story was featured in the Netflix film 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. Apart from his records, he was known to advocate for Nepali climbers and mentoring the next generation of mountaineers.
FAQs
Q1. How did Shuvam Chatterjee know Nirmal Purja?
Shuvam met Purja for the first time before his Manaslu expedition in September 2025 with Elite Exped. Then, he climbed Aconcagua and Mount Everest with his guidance.
Q2. How did the death of Nirmal Purja take place?
Nirmal Purja died as his expedition company Elite Exped confirmed in an official statement after the avalanche at Broad Peak.