Pakistani mountaineer Asif Bhatti has become stranded at an altitude of 8,126 meters on Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain in the world, due to snow blindness.
This was reported by the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) on Monday.
ACP Secretary General Karrar Haidri stated that Bhatti is currently stuck at camp 4, located between 7,500-8,000 meters, and is in need of assistance.
Bhatti, a university professor from Islamabad, was on his way to summit the peak when he encountered the difficulties that led to his current predicament, a local media reported.
Haidri mentioned that other mountaineering teams attempting the climb had relayed the message about Bhatti’s snow blindness.
To rescue Bhatti, a helicopter will be required, but he needs to descend to an altitude of approximately 6,000-6,500 meters for the helicopter to safely evacuate him.
Haidri added that Bhatti’s team members, including Lt Col (R) Dr Jabbar Bhatti, Dr Naveed, Saad Muhammad, and Faheem Pasha, have not yet initiated their final ascent.
The Karakoram Club, an organization dedicated to adventure tourism in Pakistan, stated that a group of climbers from the Karakoram Expedition in Shimshal is preparing to undertake a rescue operation to retrieve Bhatti. They are currently awaiting a helicopter to transport them to the higher camps.
Renowned climber Shehroze Kashif has also volunteered to join the rescue mission. Kashif appealed to the relevant department, requesting transportation either to the base camp or even to higher camps to increase his involvement in the rescue efforts.
This year has seen numerous attempts to summit Nanga Parbat, with 52 mountaineers, including 11 Pakistanis, successfully scaling the peak on Sunday. However, Nanga Parbat remains among the top five most perilous mountains globally, with a 21 percent probability of death. Tragically, 85 climbers have lost their lives while attempting to conquer this formidable mountain.
