Winter Summiteers of K2 given grand welcome

Kathmandu: The adventurous and world-record-holding Nepali team of climbers who climbed the world’s second-highest peak K2 located in Pakistan in winter have been given a grand welcome on their return to Nepal at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday.

The famous 10 Nepali mountaineers include Nirmal Purja ‘nimsdai’, Migma David Sherpa, Mingma Tenjing Sherpa, Gyalzen Sherpa, Prem Chiri Sherpa, Dawa Sherpa, Kilu Sherpa, Mingma G, Dawa Tenjing Sherpa, and Sona Sherpa.

The K2 summiteers were paraded around various corners of Kathmandu via Tinkune, New Baneshwar, Maitighar, Bhadrakali, Sundhara, Kantipath, and Thamel before they were welcomed and felicitated by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Nepal Mountaineering Association (MNA) along with other tourism aligned organizations.

Later on, the Nepali team of K2 summiteers were also welcomed and facilitated by honorable Prime Minister KP Oli in a program held at Baluwaar.

Speaking to the K2 summiteers, PM Oli had brisk fun with the famous climbers by saying that had the climbing not been risk-prone, even PM would have been one of the expedition members to enjoy the glamour of the K2 expedition.

The famous Nepali team of climbers had successfully reached the summit of Pakistan-based K2 on January 16 last Saturday during windy and snowy weather, while their fellow climbers including foreigners were waiting at the base camp for the weather to be suitable for the climb.

Mountaineeer Nirmal Purja (file photo)

While sharing his successful moment at K2 and return to Nepal, the famous climber Nirmal Purja said that the Nepali team of climbers wanted to give a message to the world that nothing was impossible to achieve if attempted in the collective effort.