KATHMANDU, (Nepal): Hundreds of Nepalis held a candlelight vigil on Tuesday honouring 10 climbers killed in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, as rescuers battled treacherous conditions to recover the remaining bodies.
Buddhist monks in maroon robes chanted prayers and around 500 mourners lit candles and incense in a square in the Nepali capital.
World-renowned British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, 43, was among the victims along with six elite Nepali guides, killed in the avalanche on Thursday.
“Nepal has lost a generation of accomplished mountaineers,” said Tul Singh Gurung, president of Nepal National Mountain Guide Association.
The gathering observed a minute’s silence in their memory, in front of a banner with photographs of the 10 climbers.
At the centre, candles were arranged in the shape of Nepal’s national flag, flickering in the dusk.
“This is a big loss for our mountaineering sector,” said Man Raj Gurung, an international mountain guide.
“I think it might take years for us to see such climbers again, because not everyone will be willing to take on such a risky job.”
News of the avalanche has prompted tributes from across the climbing community and beyond, with figures such as Britain’s Prince William offering condolences.
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