Gangtok, Aug. 2 -- The mountains that made Nirmal Purja immortal have also claimed him. The legendary British-Nepali mountaineer, known to the world as Nimsdai, has died at the age of 43 after an avalanche struck his expedition on Pakistan's Broad Peak, bringing to a close one of the most extraordinary chapters in modern mountaineering history.

Purja's expedition company, Elite Exped, confirmed the tragedy in a statement carrying profound sadness and immense heartbreak, revealing that other members of the ten person climbing team, including his trusted partners Pur Bahadur Gurung and Nima Sherpa, also lost their lives. The avalanche struck the team on Broad Peak's popular West Ridge route at an altitude of around 6,600 metres. What follo...