At Nepal school, outpouring of grief for climber Nirmal Purja

Grief rippled across Nepal as rescuers recovered the body of climbing legend Nirmal Purja on Sunday, days after he died in a deadly avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak. The 43-year-old British-Nepali climber, who had become one of mountaineering's most celebrated figures, was killed alongside nine other climbers.

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When he was missing, we were praying for him and spent sleepless nights. It was his fate; no one could avoid it.

At the Small Heaven School in Chitwan district, where Purja first displayed the grit that would make him world-famous, friends, teachers, and students gathered. They shared memories of the boy they knew long before his global mountaineering stardom, lighting candles around a framed photograph adorned with flowers. "When he was missing, we were praying for him and spent sleepless nights," said Dhiraj Bahadur Panta, a school friend of Purja, his voice quivering with emotion. "It was his fate; no one could avoid it."

Purja studied at the school for eight years, forging a close bond with fellow students and teachers. "Even when he was in class three, he was fearless and committed to achieving something," recalled Shailendra Baral, who supervised Purja in the school hostel. "He was honest and an obedient student, which made us happy. We found courage in him even when he was a child."

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Even when he was in class three, he was fearless and committed to achieving something. He was honest and an obedient student, which made us happy. We found courage in him even when he was a child.

In 2019, Purja shattered the record for scaling the world's 14 highest peaks, completing the feat in just over six months. His achievement, later chronicled in a Netflix documentary, inspired a new generation of climbers and elevated Nepal's profile in the sport. He was also part of the historic all-Nepali team that achieved the first winter ascent of K2 in 2021. Purja had visited Chitwan in 2022 for the screening of his documentary, stating, "I grew up here, running around with no shoes on. This is my hometown and so I wanted everyone here to see the film and inspire the younger generation."

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I grew up here, running around with no shoes on. This is my hometown and so I wanted everyone here to see the film and inspire the younger generation.