GILGIT: The body of Pakistani mountaineer Dr Asma Mushtaq, who died after suffering a critical high-altitude medical emergency on Spantik Mountain, has been recovered following a challenging search and rescue operation in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Shigar Deputy Commissioner Sher Afzal said on Monday that local climbers located and recovered the body during a search operation and had started carrying it towards the mountain’s base camp.
According to the official, the team transporting the remains had reached Camp II. However, fresh snowfall at higher elevations was continuing, creating additional difficulties for the recovery mission.
The team is expected to reach the base camp on Tuesday, provided weather conditions remain favourable, the deputy commissioner said.
Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that rescuers had located Dr Asma’s remains beyond Camp 3 on the 7,027-metre Spantik peak.
He said the rescue team was evaluating the difficult terrain and weather conditions while making arrangements for a safe and controlled descent to the base camp.
Dr Asma died on August 20 while descending Spantik after suffering a severe medical emergency linked to the extreme high-altitude environment, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
Difficult recovery operation
The recovery mission faced repeated setbacks because of heavy snowfall, strong winds and dangerous conditions on the mountain.
An earlier attempt to reach Camp 3 was suspended after worsening weather forced rescuers to retreat. Following an improvement in conditions, the team once again set out from base camp and progressed towards Camp 2.
Tarar had said several days earlier that rescuers had reached the area where Dr Asma was believed to have died. However, heavy snowfall had buried the body completely, making the search considerably more difficult.
The minister said the vast and snow-covered terrain had complicated efforts to pinpoint the exact location and retrieve the remains.
High-altitude porters were assigned to reach Camp 3, recover the body and transport it to base camp, but deteriorating weather temporarily prevented them from moving ahead.
A helicopter was later authorised to support the recovery effort, with the Gilgit-Baltistan government coordinating with the Force Command Northern Areas.
The federal government also made alternative arrangements to ensure the operation could continue despite the challenging conditions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was being kept informed of developments throughout the recovery mission.
