Record holder Nirmal Purja, aka Nims Dai, could be mired in trouble after a Kuwaiti expedition to Mt Aba Dablam (6,812m) put up a flag of record-breaking size from the summit this week. The team of Kuwaiti mountaineers was assisted by Purja.
Yesterday, the Department of Tourism said the government is investigating the matter. The flag could be seen from as far away as Khumjung, 3,000m below and 12km away from the mountain at that time, though Purja in his Twitter said that they have removed the flag. It was revealed only later that the Kuwaitis were trying to break a record by unfurling the biggest ever flag of their country on the mountain.
A Facebook post of Elite Himalayan Adventures mentions a group with Italians in it, and another Kuwait group that it was helping with the climbs. On October 29, Elite Himalayan Adventures posted “…Team B (Kuwait team) who are planning to raise the longest Kuwait flag from the summit of Ama Dablam, have all safely reached at Lukla and trekked to Phakding.
They will be spending their night tonight (their) at a local lodge and will be making their way to Namche Bazaar tomorrow,” on its Facebook page. It has been reported that the authorities concerned were not informed about the flag installation and hence the expedition team did not have the permission for the same. Purja drew ample criticism on social media for the move.
On November 16, he posted on his Twitter, “Yes, I have helped our friends from Kuwait to take their National flag(s) on the summit of Amadablam, to help them celebrate their National day that is coming up soon.” The post is accompanied by a video of the flag atop the mountain.
