KATHMANDU: The Air Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) has expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja and other Nepalis who lost their lives in an avalanche during an expedition on Pakistan’s Broad Peak.

The association paid tribute to all the Nepali climbers who died in Friday’s avalanche on the 8,047-meter Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region. Alongside Purja, five other Nepali climbers, as well as one climber each from the United States, Oman, China, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom, were killed in the tragedy.

Purja, globally known as Nims Dai, was also chairman of Mustang Helicopter Pvt. Ltd. Born in Sundar Danda village of Nepal’s Myagdi district, he earned worldwide recognition for his extraordinary achievements in high-altitude mountaineering. He set multiple world records, including successfully climbing all 14 of the world’s peaks above 8,000 meters in record time.