ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army began a search operation on the world’s ninth-highest mountain, the Nanga Parbat, on Thursday, in a bid to rescue two foreign mountaineers who have been missing since February 24.
Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, Stefano Pontecorvo on Thursday said, the Pakistan army “has authorized a helicopter for a search and rescue mission on the Nanga Parbat in the area in which Daniele Nardi and Tom Ballard should presumably be.”
He added that the rescue helicopter deployed for the purpose “is flying and approaching the area of Nanga Parbat where they could be.”
Daniel Nardi, a 42-year-old seasoned Italian winter alpinist, and Tom Ballard a 31-year-old mountaineer from the United Kingdom, were attempting a winter ascent along the demanding Mummery Ridge route on the mountain when they lost contact on Sunday, February 24. As part of his last conversation with his wife, Nardi had said that they were at 6,300 meters and descending.
Leading the rescue mission is mountaineer Ali Sadpara, the first Pakistani to summit the Nanga Parbat in a winter ascent, along with two other local mountaineers.
“Ali Sadpara is on board. [The] weather [is] still conducive to search. Praying for a speedy and positive outcome. Thank you to Pak Army for assistance,” Pontecorvo said.
Nanga Parbat, locally known as Diamer, is located 8,126 meters (26,660 ft) above sea level. Located in the Diamer District of Gilgit Baltistan, Parbat is one of the 14 eight-thousanders mountains recognized by the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation or UIAA. Due to its notoriously difficult climb, it is also known as the “killer mountain.”
Pakistan army mobilizes search operations for foreign mountaineers
Pakistan army mobilizes search operations for foreign mountaineers
