ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army has rescued over six mountaineers from the United States, Chile, Macedonia, and Nepal who were stranded on K2.
The mountaineers were struck by high-altitude sickness during an expedition at the K2 base camp.
The climbers, who were at the base camp to attempt to summit K2, contacted the Pakistan Army for rescue. The mountaineers expressed their gratitude to the Pakistani Army for their assistance.
Despite treacherous routes and inclement weather conditions, the Pakistani Army successfully saved the lives of the foreign mountaineers. The rescued climbers are now receiving medical assistance.
Similarly, on August 19, 2023, Pakistan Army aviation helicopters rescued five foreign mountaineers and a local guide who were stranded at peaks near K2 base camp, Concordia, and Shigar in Gilgit-Baltistan, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations.
Meanwhile, two Japanese climbers, Kazuya Hirade and Kenro Nakajima, have gone missing while attempting to summit K2, the world’s second-highest peak at 8,611 meters.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning as the climbers were navigating the treacherous slopes of K2, located in Pakistan’s Karakoram range.
According to Shigar Deputy Commissioner Waliullah Falahi, the climbers fell from an altitude of approximately 7,500 meters, west of K2.
Despite a swift response, including a search operation by the Pakistan Army, the situation remains dire. Helicopters dispatched from Skardu located the climbers below the 100-meter mark, but both appeared to be motionless.
Due to the high altitude, the helicopters were unable to land or hover, complicating rescue efforts. A ground team is being prepared to undertake the challenging task of retrieving the climbers, though their current condition remains uncertain.
In contrast to this tragedy, the day saw other notable achievements in high-altitude climbing. A group of 12 Pakistani climbers, along with one Russian and two Nepalese mountaineers, successfully reached the summit of Broad Peak, which stands at 8,051 meters.
The ascent took place in a brief period of favorable weather. The climbers included members of the Karakoram Expeditions team, led by renowned climber Mirza Ali, who expressed immense pride in their accomplishment.
The team, which had battled through deep snow and challenging conditions, fixed ropes to the summit, showcasing their resilience and mountaineering prowess.
Mirza Ali’s team was joined by a four-member expedition from Pakistani Broadboy Adventures, led by Shehroze Kashif, the youngest Pakistani to summit K2.
Kashif and his team reached Broad Peak at 11:30 a.m., and expressed satisfaction with their achievement despite the narrow weather window.
Sunu Sherpa of Nepal set a world record by climbing Broad Peak for the third time, a remarkable feat in the mountaineering world.
Summit Karakoram CEO Iqbal Qadri praised Sunu’s exceptional skills and determination, highlighting his ongoing efforts to scale all 14 of the world’s eight-thousanders.
