Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Khalid Khurshid on Wednesday announced that the mountaineers stranded on the Rakaposhi mountain were successfully rescued with the help of Army Aviation on Wednesday.
Pakistani climber Wajidullah Nagri, along with Czech climbers Peter Macek and Jakub Vicek were stranded on the 7,788-metre-high mountain during their descent after summiting the peak, said the Alpine Club Pakistan (ACP)
For the last four days, the trio was stranded at an altitude of around 6,900 metres, with food and other essential supplies being flown in via helicopter for them, stated Nagar's deputy commissioner (DC)
The Gilgit Baltistan administration enlisted a team of expert climbers to partake in the rescue operation, which included Sajid Ali Sadpara, the son of legendary mountaineer Mohammad Ali Sadpara.
The first few attempts to conduct a helicopter rescue were due to rough weather conditions in the area. The mountaineers, however, were in contact with their families through satellite communication.
The secretary of the ACP also confirmed with a post on Facebook that the three stranded climbers were successfully rescued by Army Aviation.
“With the continuous efforts of Army Aviation, the rescue operation was successfully ensured,” CM Khurshid said, commending the role of Army pilots.
Nagri and the foreign climbers’ cooperation with Force Command Northern Areas aided with the rescue mission, he added.
The chief minister further stated that Gilgit Baltistan is a unique destination for mountaineering, and the province has been depicted positively all over the world because of its mountaineering opportunities.
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