Nepali mountaineer Pur Bahadur Gurung, popularly known as “Yukta,” was cremated on Friday after being killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Gilgit-Baltistan. His final rites were conducted in accordance with Buddhist traditions, bringing a solemn conclusion to the repatriation process following the deadly mountaineering disaster.

Gurung was among 10 climbers who lost their lives when an avalanche struck Broad Peak on July 30. The mountain, located in the Karakoram range, rises to 8,051 metres and is recognised as the world’s 12th-highest peak. Its extreme altitude and unpredictable conditions make expeditions especially difficult and dangerous.

The group also included veteran Nepalese-British mountaineer Nirmal Purja, according to the report. Authorities and rescue teams initially faced uncertainty following the avalanche, but all 10 climbers were formally declared dead on August 1, two days after the disaster occurred.

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Gurung’s cremation was conducted after his remains were brought to Kathmandu. The ceremony followed Buddhist rituals and customs associated with mourning and the final farewell. Further details about those attending the rites or the arrangements made for other victims were not included in the available information.

The deaths have shaken the international mountaineering community, particularly in Nepal, which has produced many experienced high-altitude climbers. Gurung was widely known by his nickname, Yukta, among fellow climbers and members of the mountaineering fraternity. His death adds to the heavy human toll associated with expeditions on the world’s highest mountains.

The Broad Peak avalanche once again highlights the severe risks faced by climbers operating at extreme elevations, where changing weather, unstable snow and difficult rescue conditions can rapidly turn fatal. Additional information about the circumstances leading to the avalanche and the recovery of the other climbers was not immediately available.

Also Read: Search Continues for Famed Mountaineer Nirmal Purja After Deadly Avalanche