INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, JUNE 5Lawmaker Rajendra Bajgain has urged the government to ban prominent climber Nirmal "Nims" Purja from
This call comes in the wake of a New York Times article alleging sexual assault by Purja
In the article, Finnish climber Lotta Hintsa and American physician Dr
April Leonardo accuse Purja of sexual misconduct during their expeditions with him.
DoT expresses serious concern over Nims
Purja's Everest video claim, announces legal investigation
plays foul in mountains, circulates fake message about Everest, tarnishing Nepal's image
Speaking at a House of Representatives meeting on June 4, Nepali Congress MP Bajgain stated that
Purja has tarnished Nepal's image, not only with these recent allegations but also by accusing Sherpas of cutting ropes on expeditions
Bajgain noted that despite having British citizenship, Purja continues to climb using Nepali citizenship, which he later renounces.The
allegations have sent shockwaves through the global climbing community
Many climbers and organizations have called for action against Purja and urged his sponsors to sever ties with him
Influential figures in the mountaineering community have publicly denounced Purja, emphasizing the need for zero tolerance for sexual
predation.
American guide Adrian Ballinger was one of the first to speak out on social media, stating, "This week one of
Everest's biggest new stars, Nirmal Purja (Nimsdai), was credibly accused of sexual assault by multiple women." Ballinger highlighted the
importance of addressing such dangers within the mountaineering community.Renowned climber Kilian Jornet also reacted, pointing out that the
male-dominated environment of mountaineering often silences victims
He emphasized the need for a safer and more equal culture in the sport.American mountaineer Garrett Madison echoed these sentiments,
stating, "There are always a lot of firsts on the mountain
This is not one we welcome or can tolerate."Several expedition operators, including Adventure Consultants, AW Expeditions, and Climbing the
Seven Summits, have condemned Purja
The Women of Mountaineering group also expressed their support for the victims, stating their commitment to changing the gender dynamics in
mountaineering.
Ospreypacks commented in a instagram post by AWExpeditions
Following these developments, Osprey Packs, an American outdoor backpack company, terminated their collaboration
"Osprey is aware of the recent allegations made against mountaineer Nirmal Purja (Nims)
He is no longer an Osprey ambassador," the company announced.Similarly, Nims is also the brand ambassador of the Scarpa
Scarpa World in its social media post mentions, "We recognize the importance of dealing with this circumstance seriously and responsibly, so
we wait for developments through the appropriate channels."In contrast, Grivel, an Italian producer of climbing equipment, faced backlash
for their handling of the situation
Photographer and climber Emma Svensson, a Grivel brand ambassador, ended her collaboration with the company, criticizing their response to
Later, she published screenshots of a message from Grivel's CEO in a WhatsApp group consisting of Grivel's brand ambassadors, along with her
reply and her announcement ending the collaboration.
Screenshots of Whatsapp messages published
by Emma Svensson in the social media
These are just a few of the many voices speaking out about their experiences in the mountains and condemning the
sexual abuse.In the NYT article, Hintsa, a former Miss Finland, recounted an incident in the Kathmandu Marriot Hotel (Naxal) suite in March
2023, where Purja allegedly kissed her without warning, made unwanted and aggressive physical advances and then sexually assaulted her
Leonardo accused Purja of forcefully touching and kissing her multiple times during an expedition to K2.Purja has denied these allegations
Despite his denials, his reputation continues to suffer
Purja has denied these allegations through his lawyer
Despite his denials, his reputation continues to suffer
Known for his record-breaking climbs and viral photos of traffic in Mt Everest, Purja's recent controversies have overshadowed his
achievements.Purja is not a new name to controversies.Back in September 2022, a massive explosion occurred in the house that served as the
headquarters for Purja's Elite Expedition in Nepal, resulting in the deaths of three people
Purja was accused of fleeing to the UK without paying compensation for the damages to the house, which was destroyed in the blast caused by
an oxygen canister stored in the Elite Expedition office.In addition to the recent assault allegations, Purja has faced accusations of
flouting mountaineering and aviation rules in Nepal
Recently, his expedition company was accused of illegally leading his clients to climb to Everest Camp III
He has also been accused of taking an unauthorized helicopter flight to Camp II
Except for emergency rescue evacuations, helicopter flight above the Everest Base Camp has been banned and the Civil Aviation Authority of
Nepal suspended the helicopter pilot involved
The CAAN also denied Purja a permit for skydiving in the Everest region citing serious issues of aviation safety.Purja's claim that ropes
above the Balcony area on Everest were cut to prevent him from summiting was also disputed by the Department of Tourism, which announced an
investigation into his allegations.As the investigation into these various claims continues, the once-celebrated climber finds himself at
the center of mounting controversy.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com
