Nirmal Purja’s Body Could Not Be Brought To Nepal For Final Tribute, Funeral To Take Place In UK

Kathmandu, 10 August, 2026

Nirmal Purja’s Body Could Not Be Brought To Nepal For Final Tribute, Funeral To Take Place In UK

World renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, popularly known as Nimsdai, could not be brought back to Nepal for a final tribute despite efforts by his family, mountaineering officials and diplomatic missions to arrange a brief stop in Kathmandu.

Purja’s family had hoped his body could be transported from Islamabad, Pakistan, to Kathmandu for a few hours before continuing to the United Kingdom. The plan would have given Nepal an opportunity to pay its final respects to one of the country’s most internationally recognized mountaineers.

However, the plan could not be completed because of difficulties involving diplomatic procedures, flight arrangements, timing and other technical requirements. His body was instead flown from Islamabad to the UK on Saturday night, where his final funeral will take place.

Family Had Hoped For A Final Farewell In Nepal

Following Purja’s death, his family had expressed a wish to bring his body to Nepal before the final funeral in the UK.

The proposed arrangement would have brought his body from Islamabad to Kathmandu for only a few hours. During that time, a final tribute could have been organized in Nepal before his body continued its journey to the UK.

The plan carried special meaning because Purja was born in Nepal and became one of the most recognized names in high altitude mountaineering.

Despite efforts to make the Kathmandu stop possible, the required arrangements could not be completed within the available time.

Nepal Mountaineering Association Tried To Arrange Transfer

The Nepal Mountaineering Association, along with concerned mountaineering officials and diplomatic missions, made repeated efforts to arrange the transfer.

The process involved several challenges because Purja’s body was in Pakistan, while the planned final funeral was in the United Kingdom. Bringing the body to Nepal for a short period required diplomatic coordination as well as suitable international flight arrangements.

According to information provided by the association, diplomatic procedures, flight schedules, limited time and technical difficulties ultimately prevented the plan from moving forward.

As a result, Purja’s body could not be brought to Kathmandu.

NMA General Secretary Apologizes To Family

Nepal Mountaineering Association General Secretary Rajendra Bahadur Lama expressed deep regret over the situation and apologized to Purja’s family after the efforts failed.

The association had wanted Nepal to have an opportunity to pay tribute to a mountaineer who had taken the country’s name to some of the highest mountains in the world.

The failure to bring his body home meant that Nepal could not hold the final farewell that his family and members of the mountaineering community had hoped for.

Purja Died Following Broad Peak Avalanche

Purja died following an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan on July 30.

He was part of a 10 member international climbing team when the avalanche struck the expedition. Six Nepali climbers were among the members involved.

The incident led to a difficult search and recovery operation in the high altitude region. The deaths were later confirmed as recovery efforts continued on the mountain.

Broad Peak, located in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range, is one of the world’s 14 mountains higher than 8,000 metres.

The dangerous conditions and remote location made the operation particularly difficult.

Body Taken From Pakistan To UK

After recovery arrangements in Pakistan, Purja’s body was eventually transported to Islamabad.

His family and officials continued working on the possibility of bringing him to Nepal before the final journey to the UK. However, once it became clear that the Kathmandu plan could not be completed, arrangements were made for his body to travel directly from Pakistan to Britain.

His body left Islamabad for the UK on Saturday night.

His final funeral will now take place in the United Kingdom.

Nimsdai Became A Global Name In Mountaineering

Purja, widely known as Nimsdai, became one of the most famous figures in modern high altitude mountaineering.

Born in Nepal, he later served with the British military before building an international career in mountaineering.

He gained worldwide attention in 2019 through his Project Possible mission, when he completed all 14 of the world’s mountains above 8,000 metres in just over six months.

The achievement dramatically reduced the previous time taken to complete all 14 peaks and brought Purja international recognition.

His expeditions and achievements also kept Nepal and Himalayan mountaineering in the global spotlight.

Purja later continued taking part in major expeditions and became a widely recognized figure within the international climbing community.

Nepal Loses Chance For Final Tribute

For Nepal’s mountaineering community, the inability to bring Purja’s body to Kathmandu has added another emotional chapter to his death.

The planned stop would have allowed fellow climbers, officials and others in Nepal to pay their respects before his final funeral.

Instead, his final journey continued directly from Pakistan to the United Kingdom.

Although Nepal could not give Purja a final farewell on Nepali soil, his achievements remain closely connected with the country where his mountaineering journey began.

From the Himalayas to some of the world’s most difficult peaks, Nimsdai became an internationally recognized name while carrying his Nepali roots throughout his career.

His final funeral will now take place far from the homeland he represented on mountains around the world.