The three Iranian climbers were stuck above 7,400 metres on the peak as their descent became complicated due to bad weather. PHOTO: MAJID HUSSAIN
The rescue operations were resumed a day after being suspended. The latest effort is seen as the best attempt to save the climbers before inclement weather makes rescue efforts impossible.
Aidin Bozorgi, Pouya Keivan and Mojtaba Jarah, all Iranians, were part of an 11-member mountaineering expedition that scaled the K3 or Broad Peak on July 16.
While the remaining members of the expedition reached the base camp, the three Iranian climbers were stuck above 7,400 metres on the peak as their descent became complicated due to bad weather.
According to tour operators, the three climbers were without food, water and shelter since July 18.
“The search operation is on as per schedule and we hope for the best,” said Shehzad Ahmed, an official in the information department.
“It will be the last effort to locate the missing climbers before the inclement weather makes it impossible from tomorrow onwards,” Ahmed told The Express Tribune.
On Tuesday night, Gilgit Baltistan’s Home Secretary Ataur Rahman flew to Skardu by an army helicopter to supervise the operation, which is being led by renowned German expert Thomas Laemmle. Laemmle had made an aerial search of the peak on Sunday and had collected GPS data and satellite images of possible locations where the climbers could be holed up.
“Laemmle had identified three possible locations in his previous search and he will further concentrate on these today to reach a conclusion,” Ahmed said, adding that an official announcement will be made once Rahman is back in his office, after consulting experts at the operations base.
Spanish climbers
Meanwhile, the government of Gilgit-Baltistan has denied reports of another four Spanish climbers going missing on Gasherbrum 1. “They have been traced. They were lagging behind and now on their way back to base camp,” said Yasir Hussain, an official in the tourism department.
The mountaineers were part of an 11-member Spanish team attempting to climb the 8,068-metre Gasherbrum 1.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2013.
COMMENTS (8)
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Best of luck, may God protects you all.
Pakistani mountains are the most complicated to climb. Even though Nepal has also got its fare share of high peaks, or 8-thousanders, but summiting Pakistani ones is more challenging, i.e. exactly why they attract the best and the most daring of the climbers from all around the world. . @"How sad is this! A German takes lead to rescue the Iranians " . The incident is sad off course, however if you imply that Germans taking the lead makes you sad than this might be a bit misleading. Germany, and surrounding German speaking territory, arguably has the best climbing potential on earth and their help is neither uncommon nor surprising for the climbing community. In fact there is a light at the end of the tunnel as Germans are offering help to Iranians, which might not be considered as very friendly countries in the international politics. . @"How could that be, I thought these climbers always take food,water and other essentials in case they are stranded some where because of the bad weather." . I have not found any evidence in the above report that they have not taken necessities with them. They might have exhausted it. And then they cannot obviously carry loads of it with them.
Hope they are found safe and sound
What a misleading title.. The tribune is getting worse by the day.
Hope the rescue efforts are successful. Thank you German team
My heart goes out to them, hope we find them well and alive".According to tour operators, the three climbers were without food, water and shelter since July 18". How could that be, I thought these climbers always take food,water and other essentials in case they are stranded some where because of the bad weather. My prayers are with them.
I
How sad is this! A German takes lead to rescue the Iranians when the Pakistani authorities shirked their responsibility and gave up after flying one helicopter flight in a pretend rescue operation.
Our prayers for safe return of Iranian climbers and thank God, Spanish climbers are safe and are on their way to the base camp.