A major fire last night destroyed a building in Kathmandu that housed the Elite Exped offices, co-owned by Nirmal Purja and Mingma David Sherpa. Tragically, three people have been confirmed dead, and there are an unidentified number of injured people.
“Many gas cylinders were stored in the ground floor office of the trekking company for upcoming expeditions,” The Himalayan Times reported.
They have not mentioned the cause of the fire, but the gas canisters might have made it worse.
“A number of citizens close to the site reported hearing loud blasts repeatedly and feeling the earth shake,” Everest Chronicle reported. “It took six fire engines and three dozen firefighters well over three hours to control the fire.”
Firefighters assess this as one of the worst fires in Nepal’s capital this year.
The remains of Elite Exped’s headquarters in Kathmandu. Photo: Everest Chronicle
As Everest Chronicle noted, incidents related to exploding gas canisters are common in Nepal. Outfitters usually store fuel and oxygen canisters in their buildings, as well as mountaineering gear.
The building was located at Budhanilkantha -10 in Kapan, Kathmandu, and it was not Elite Exped’s property. It is not known whether other parts of the building were leased to other companies or individuals.
