KATHMANDU: A condolence, candle-lighting ceremony and moment of silence were held at the Consulate General of Nepal in New York to honour the 10 mountaineers who lost their lives in the Broad Peak tragedy in Pakistan on July 30.

The memorial was organised by the Consulate General of Nepal in New York in collaboration with the United Sherpa Association (USA) Inc.—Sherpa Kyidug America, New York, and the US-Nepal Climbers Association Inc.

Diplomatic and government representatives from Nepal, China, Oman, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and the United States attended the ceremony, alongside mountaineers, mountain guides, tourism professionals, community leaders, media representatives and well-wishers.

The climbers remembered at the ceremony were Nirmal Purja (Nimsdai) MBE, Yukta Gurung, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, Nawang Thendu Sherpa, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nadhira Al Harthy, Sohail Sakhi, Wang Zhong and Mallory Geis.

Participants lit candles in front of photographs of the deceased climbers as a symbol of remembrance, respect and international solidarity before observing a minute of silence and offering prayers.

Consul General of Nepal Dadhiram Bhandari, Chinese Consul Ji Yuan Nong, Omani Ambassador and Permanent Representative Omar Saif Omar Alkathiri, Pakistani Consul General Aamer Ahmed Atozai, US Office of Foreign Missions Regional Director Kathy Eagan and UK Deputy Consul General Mel Lawrance were among the diplomatic representatives present.

The ceremony also brought attention to the longer-term needs of the families left behind, particularly the education and welfare of the children of the deceased mountaineers, according to United Sherpa Association Secretary Pasang Sherpa.

Speakers and participants emphasised that the loss of the climbers extended beyond their individual families and countries, affecting the wider international mountaineering community, Sherpa added.

The United Sherpa Association thanked the Nepali Consulate for organising the memorial and acknowledged the participation of diplomatic representatives, climbing organisations, mountain guides, tourism professionals, community members and others.

The Broad Peak avalanche on July 30 claimed the lives of climbers from Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, China and the United States during an international expedition on the 8,000-metre peak in Pakistan.