Renowned Pakistani mountaineer Murad Sadpara has gone missing following a successful summit of Broad Peak, one of the world’s tallest mountains located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.
The climber, celebrated for his record-breaking ascents, reportedly fell after reaching the 8,047-meter (26,555-foot) summit, and all communication with him has since been lost.
The Deputy Commissioner of Shigar, Waliullah Falahi, confirmed Sadpara’s disappearance, revealing that the Pakistan Army has been contacted to assist in the urgent search and rescue operation.
Army Aviation units are expected to be deployed in the challenging terrain to locate the missing climber.
The alarming news has prompted fellow mountaineer Naila Kiani to make a public appeal on social media, urging the Pakistan Army to dispatch a rescue team from Skardu to the crampon point of Broad Peak.
In her heartfelt plea, Kiani emphasized Sadpara’s recent heroics in recovering the body of a porter from K2’s dangerous bottleneck and expressed the dire need for swift action to save her fellow climber.
“Murad Sadpara, our top climber and a true legend who helped retrieve the body of Hassan Shigri from K2 bottleneck last week, has met with an accident on Broad Peak and urgently needs rescue.
We’re requesting the Pakistan Army to send four climbers from Skardu to the Broad Peak crampon point to bring him back safely. Please keep Murad in your prayers for a safe return to Skardu,” Kiani wrote on Facebook, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
The mountaineering community and the public have rallied behind these calls for assistance, with many sharing messages of support and prayers for Sadpara’s safe return.
Abid Sadpara, another accomplished mountaineer, also expressed his frustration on social media over the slow response to their requests for help, urging the public to continue praying for Murad’s safety.
Pakistan, home to five of the world’s 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, including K2 and Nanga Parbat, has long been a favored destination for climbers from around the globe.
However, this latest incident on Broad Peak serves as a sobering reminder of the perils inherent in high-altitude climbing, even on peaks considered to be relatively safer.
As rescue efforts intensify, the world watches and hopes for the safe return of one of Pakistan’s most cherished climbers, whose passion and dedication have inspired many within the mountaineering community.
