Relatives of renowned mountaineer Syed Ali Shah have appealed to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to recover his body from the Falak Sar Glacier in Swat.
Shah, a mountain guide, died after a glacier burst in the Matiltan area of Upper Swat’s Kalam Valley in July 2026. He fell into a gorge during the incident, while authorities have yet to retrieve his remains from the remote mountainous region.
According to his relatives, young volunteers from Swat recently located Shah’s body using a drone. They traced the body on the Falak Sar Glacier at an altitude of around 5,200 metres.
Extreme Terrain Complicates Recovery Operation
The relatives said the location presents major challenges for rescue teams. The high altitude, difficult terrain and inaccessible glacier have made a conventional ground recovery extremely difficult.
They said rescue workers cannot easily reach the site through normal routes because of the harsh mountainous conditions. As a result, the family believes authorities need to arrange a specialised operation without further delay.
The relatives have urged the provincial government to coordinate with relevant rescue and security authorities. They said officials should assess the safest method to reach the glacier and recover Shah’s remains.
Family Seeks Immediate Helicopter Rescue
According to the family, a helicopter operation appears to offer the most practical option for retrieving the body safely. They have therefore requested the KP government to arrange an aerial rescue mission and transport the remains to his family.
The relatives said recovering Shah’s body would provide closure to the bereaved family. They also urged authorities to act quickly because weather and conditions in the high-altitude region could further complicate the operation.
Meanwhile, the family continues to wait for government assistance. They hope the authorities will launch a recovery mission soon and return the mountaineer’s remains to his loved ones.
