Pur Bahadur Gurung has been brought back to Nepal after he was killed in a deadly avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan. His mortal remains arrived in Kathmandu, allowing his family and fellow mountaineers to pay their final respects.
Gurung, widely known as “Yukta”, was among 10 climbers caught in the avalanche on July 30. The disaster struck the international expedition on Broad Peak, an 8,047-metre mountain in Pakistan’s Karakoram range.
Pur Bahadur Gurung returns to Nepal
The return of Pur Bahadur Gurung marks the latest stage in the recovery effort following the Broad Peak tragedy. His remains reached Kathmandu on August 6, according to reports shared after the recovery operation, with family members and fellow climbers gathering to pay tribute.
The 30 July avalanche swept through the climbing route as the group attempted to move higher on the mountain. Pakistani authorities and rescue teams later recovered several bodies from the avalanche area.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan initially identified Gurung and Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy among the victims. American climber Mallory Geis was also later identified among those recovered.
Broad Peak avalanche killed 10 climbers
The Broad Peak disaster became one of the deadliest mountaineering incidents of the 2026 climbing season. The expedition involved climbers and guides from Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, the United States and China.
Among those on the mountain was renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal “Nims” Purja, who led the expedition. Purja and the other members were later confirmed dead after rescue teams continued searching the avalanche zone. Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah also acknowledged the deaths of six Nepali climbers and four foreign climbers.
Meanwhile, severe weather and difficult terrain complicated the recovery operation. Helicopter flights and ground searches were affected by conditions in the remote Karakoram region.
Search and recovery faced harsh conditions
Rescuers relied on helicopters, drones and high-altitude teams to locate victims. However, poor weather repeatedly limited access to the avalanche site.
The operation was especially difficult because Broad Peak rises above 8,000 metres and lies in a remote part of the Karakoram. As a result, recovering bodies from the mountain required careful planning and exposed rescue personnel to additional risks.
Gurung was an experienced mountaineer
Pur Bahadur Gurung was an experienced Nepalese mountaineer and high-altitude guide. Nepal’s official mountaineering records list him among climbers who had taken part in expeditions on major Himalayan peaks.
He was also associated with Nepal’s mountaineering community as a guide. The Nepal National Mountain Guide Association lists Pur Bahadur Gurung, also known as Yukta Tamu, among its aspirant guides.
His work extended beyond climbing. Gurung was also identified as the founder president of Mission Community Help Foundation Nepal, an organisation involved in community support and education initiatives.
Nepal mourns a loss from Broad Peak
The return of Pur Bahadur Gurung has brought the tragedy closer to his family and the wider Nepali mountaineering community. Fellow climbers and supporters have remembered him for his commitment to high-altitude climbing and his contribution to expeditions.
The Broad Peak avalanche also highlighted the dangers faced by climbers operating in the world’s highest mountain ranges. Even experienced mountaineers can face rapidly changing snow, weather and terrain conditions at extreme altitude.
Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain, remains a demanding climbing objective because of its steep terrain and severe weather. The latest disaster has therefore renewed attention on the risks involved in high-altitude expeditions.
For Gurung’s family, however, the return of his remains provides an opportunity to bring him home and complete final rites. His death, alongside those of the other climbers, has left a deep mark on Nepal’s mountaineering community.
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