Nepali singer and mountaineer Raju Lama reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro on August 11 and dedicated the climb to the ten climbers who died in the Broad Peak avalanche on July 30. Lama, known for his music with the band Mongolian Heart, stood on the 5,895-metre summit at around 9 a.m. local time, accompanied by IFMGA mountain guide Abiral Rai.
Speaking from the summit, Lama said
“Standing atop Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, is an amazing experience. Today, we want to dedicate this climb to the ten beautiful souls lost on Broad Peak. Rest in Peace, dear brothers and friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and friends.”
He also thanked Mingma G and the entire rescue and recovery team for bringing the climbers’ bodies home, saying they had done so at great risk to their own lives.
What happened on Broad Peak
On July 30, 2026, an avalanche hit a group of ten climbers who were attempting to summit Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. The avalanche struck at an altitude of about 6,600 metres, on the slope between Camp 2 and Camp 3, and swept all ten climbers down the mountain. On August 1, it was confirmed that none of them had survived.
The climbers who died were Sohail Sakhi, Mallory Geis, Nirmal Purja (Nimsdai), Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta), Nima Sherpa, Nadhira Al Harthy, Kili Pemba Sherpa (Kilu), Nawang Thindu Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Wang Zhong. It remains one of the deadliest single accidents in Karakoram mountaineering history.
Remembering Nimsdai
Lama shared personal memories of Nirmal Purja, whom he described as being like a brother
“The the memories we shared together will always hold a special place in my heart, as we were truly a band of brothers. I still remember the first words you spoke to me when we met – ‘Brother, you must climb the mountain.’ They were inspiring then, and they continue to inspire me now. Your words of inspiration and determination will continue to resonate with me and countless others around the world. Your legacy will remain a beacon of hope and courage, soaring above the clouds. You are a true warrior and legend. You will be dearly missed, my brother.”
He also remembered Kili Pemba Sherpa, saying their shared expeditions had left a lasting mark on him:
“Our journeys together from the peaks of Lobuche to the mighty Everest are etched in my mind forever. Your support and legendary presence made climbing alongside you an immense honor. May you find eternal peace in the mountains you loved so dearly.”
Lama also closed his tribute with a message for all ten climbers and their families “To my dear brothers and all the courageous souls we have lost, may you all find eternal peace. My thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this profound loss. Rest in eternal peace, knowing that you will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
From singer to mountaineer
Raju Lama is one of Nepal’s most popular musical artists, but over the past four years he has also built a serious mountaineering career. His climbing journey began in 2022, when he set out to climb Mount Everest. He started the expedition on April 10, 2022, and reached the summit at around 6:40 a.m. on May 16, 2022.
Lama climbed Everest for several connected reasons. He wanted to use his fame as a singer to raise awareness about climate change and the melting of Himalayan ice, and to show how global warming is affecting mountain communities. He also saw the climb as a way to bring together his music career and Nepal’s Himalayan identity. During the expedition, he organized a “Music for a Cause” concert near Camp III, at about 6,574 metres, to spread his message on the environment.
After Everest, Lama set his sights on the Seven Summits, the challenge of climbing the highest mountain on every continent.
He added his second Seven Summits peak in 2025 with Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia (4,884 m). In 2026, he climbed two more: Mount Elbrus in Russia (5,642 m), his third Seven Summits peak, followed by Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (5,895 m), his fourth.
With Kilimanjaro now behind him, Lama has climbed four of the Seven Summits. Three remain Denali in North America, Aconcagua in South America, and Vinson in Antarctica.
