Search teams assisted by military helicopters recovered the bodies of renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja and three other missing climbers from a high peak in Pakistan on Wednesday. The operation was part of an ongoing rescue operation in the northern mountains that was launched after contact with the climbers was lost. Despite extremely bad weather conditions, ground and air teams reached the scene. The discovery of the bodies of Nirmal Purja and other colleagues has revealed one of the biggest tragedies of the recent season in the country's highest mountain range.
Rescue operation details and proceedings on Wednesday
Army aviation helicopters and local expert mountaineers participated in this coordinated search operation. Officials confirmed that bodies were spotted during an aerial survey on Wednesday after which ground teams were dispatched to the site. Retrieving bodies from such a height is a very dangerous task and one has to wait for the best weather conditions. The families of the deceased have been informed through diplomatic channels while the district administration is busy making arrangements for repatriation.
Important information on mountain climbing safety
Pakistan's northern mountains attract hundreds of foreign climbers and local trekkers every year. However, sudden avalanches, avalanches and crevasses of glaciers at altitudes above 7,000 meters pose constant hazards. The Ministry of Tourism requires all foreign expeditions to obtain permits through local registered agencies. If you intend to do any trekking or mountaineering in Gilgit-Baltistan, you must contact the Pakistan Alpine Club and the local administration before departure.
What happens next?
The relevant authorities will issue a detailed report by the end of this week regarding the actual causes of the accident. On the other hand, the Meteorological Department has issued an alert for high passes and has directed the ongoing expeditions to be temporarily suspended until the weather improves. The government is reviewing permit rules for high peaks after which security checks at base camps are likely to be tightened.