Tragedy struck during an expedition on Nanga Parbat when Klara Kolouchova, a renowned 46-year-old Czech mountaineer and the first woman from her country to summit Everest and K2, died after a fatal fall between Camp 1 and Camp 2, officials reported.
Kolouchova was part of a seven-member team, including her husband, that arrived in Pakistan on June 15 and set up base camp two days later. Diamer Additional Deputy Commissioner Nizamuddin said her teammates confirmed her death upon returning to base camp. Recovery teams are now working to locate the exact spot where she fell.
The accident occurred around 4am local time, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan. Rescue efforts have been complicated by the mountain’s challenging and unforgiving terrain.
Karrar Haidri, vice president of the Alpine Club, mourned her death, describing Kolouchova as “an inspiration to climbers worldwide” and extended condolences to her family and the climbing community. The Alpine Club is coordinating with local authorities to facilitate recovery.
Internationally celebrated for her historic climbs, Kolouchova’s attempt to summit Nanga Parbat, standing at 8,125 meters and known for its treacherous slopes, was part of her ambition to conquer all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks.
Nicknamed the “Killer Mountain,” Nanga Parbat remains one of the world’s deadliest, with a fatality rate of about 22%. Its south ‘Rupal face’ rises 4,600 meters, making it the highest mountain face globally, while the north ‘Rakhiot Flank’ rises an astonishing 7,000 meters, among the greatest elevation gains on earth.
