Nepali climbing team member Pur Bahadur dies in Pakistan avalanche
GORKHA:- Pur Bahadur Gurung, an experienced mountaineer and social worker from Laprak in Dharche Rural Municipality-4, Gorkha, has passed away after being caught in an avalanche while climbing a mountain in Pakistan. News of his death has plunged his hometown of Laprak and the entire Gorkha district into mourning.
Gurung, a 38-year-old figure well-known in the Nepali mountaineering community, had successfully scaled Mount Everest—the world’s highest peak—ten times and climbed various peaks exceeding 8,000 meters on twenty-eight occasions. Having long been active in international mountaineering expeditions, he made significant contributions to showcasing Nepal’s mountaineering sector to the world.
Alongside mountaineering, Gurung was equally dedicated to social service. Kisan Gurung, the Ward Chairperson of Dharche-4, stated that he had been regularly providing assistance to the underprivileged, the poor, persons with disabilities, students, and various social organizations in Laprak and Gorkha.
According to family sources, Gurung—who had been in Pakistan for the past month—was in contact with his family until Thursday evening.
Shobhit Kunwar, an administrator at the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, stated that the body of Gurung, who was caught in the avalanche, has been identified, and preparations are now underway to bring the body back to Nepal after completing the necessary legal procedures.
A pall of gloom has descended upon Laprak following the news of his passing. According to locals, he was not only a successful mountaineer but also a socially responsible and inspiring figure. Born in 2045 BS to father Dhan Bahadur Gurung and mother Somni Gurung, he is survived by his wife, parents, and a son.
