GILGIT-BALTISTAN: Renowned Pakistani mountaineer Murad Sadpara has gone missing after successfully climbing Broad Peak.
The incident took place when Sadpara, known for his record-breaking ascents, reportedly fell after reaching the peak and all contact with him has since been lost.
Shigar Deputy Commissioner Waliullah Falahi confirmed the disappearance and said Army Aviation had been contacted to assist in the search and rescue.
Fellow climber Naila Kiani appealed on social media to the Pakistan Army to send a team from Skardu to Broad Peak to bring Sadpara back safely.
Sadpara was part of the Pakistani team that recently recovered the body of a K2 porter who had perished a year earlier.
Broad Peak, located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, is considered one of the “safer” 8,000m peaks, standing at 8,047 meters (26,555 ft).
However, the accident highlighted the dangers associated with high-altitude climbing.
Abid Sadpara, another climber, urged the public to keep Murad in their prayers for a safe return, and took to social media to express frustration at the lack of response to their calls for help.
Home to five of the world’s 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, including K2 and Nanga Parbat, Pakistan is a destination for climbers worldwide.
In 2023, more than 8,900 foreign climbers visited the remote northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan during the summer climbing season, which runs from early June to late August.
