The body of mountaineer Syed Ali Shah has been recovered 54 days after he died during a descent from Falak Sar peak.
The mountaineer, a resident of Asala village in Khwazakhela, Swat, had left Kalam on July 5 with a six-member team.
The group successfully reached Falak Sar Top, which stands around 5,985 meters high. However, tragedy struck during their return journey.
On July 11, Shah reportedly slipped at a difficult section during a severe snowstorm. He fell into a deep ravine and sustained critical injuries.
He later died from those injuries. However, heavy snowfall and dangerous terrain prevented rescuers from immediately recovering his body.
Drone Helps Locate Mountaineer
After weeks of search efforts, rescuers located Shah’s body using a drone. The body was found at an altitude of around 5,200 meters.
A rescue team subsequently recovered it 54 days after the accident. Authorities then transported the body by helicopter to Cadet College Swat.
From there, Rescue 1122 Swat shifted the body by ambulance to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Khwazakhela.
The body was later taken to Shah’s native village of Asala, where he was laid to rest.
Local elders, civil society members, journalists and residents from different walks of life attended his funeral prayers.
The recovery brought an end to a prolonged search for the mountaineer. Shah’s death highlights the severe risks climbers face while navigating high-altitude terrain and extreme weather conditions in Swat’s mountainous areas.
