By: Asem Mustafa
ISLAMABAD: Imtiaz Hussain and Akbar Ali are the two rescuers looking for the three missing climbers on K-2 and they are joined by entire nation praying for the safe return.
The three were part of the international winter expedition on the world second highest mountain which has an altitude of 8611 meters. The first winter ascent of the mountain was recorded last month when a group of Nepalese climbers scaled the mountain finding a good weather window.
The Nepalese climbers have left the mountain but those who stayed for ‘weather window’ are now faced with the missing and sick climbers. The two who are high up on the mountain are nephew and cousin of the missing climber Ali Sadpara.
They are at camp 1 near 6000 meters and the rescue is faced with poor visibility and harsh weather conditions.
Muhammad Ali Sadpara is missing for the last three days and along with him J P Mohr from Chile and John Snorri from Iceland are also missing.
The last contact according to Sajid Sadpara, son of Ali Sadpara was three days ago at the ‘Bottle Neck’ on K-2 that is over 8000 meters.
Pakistan army helicopters have carried out the rescue but there was no sign of the climbers.