Pakistan Army helicopters airlifted two Russian climbers stranded on Gasherbrum IV, a 7,925-meter peak, following an avalanche that struck a group of five mountaineers. The avalanche, which occurred at an altitude of 6,400 meters, resulted in the death of one climber and left two others critically injured.
The group, consisting of Sergei Nilov, Mikhail Mironov, Alexy Bautin, Sergei Mironov, and Evgenii Lablokov, began their ascent on August 4.
On Saturday morning, the avalanche hit, leading to the disappearance of Sergei Nilov and injuries to Mikhail Mironov and Sergei Mironov. Alexy Bautin and Evgenii Lablokov were unharmed and subsequently rescued by the army, who transported them to Skardu.
Alexy Bautin recounted the incident, stating that the avalanche began at 7,000 meters. He confirmed the death of Sergei Nilov and the injuries sustained by his colleagues, emphasizing the urgent need for their rescue.
Despite maintaining contact with the injured climbers via satellite phone, Bautin expressed concern for their critical condition.
Ghulam Muhammad, a tour operator, said that adverse weather conditions hindered helicopter operations on Sunday, following an initial sortie that rescued two climbers.
The stranded mountaineers, located at over 6,400 meters, were beyond the reach of helicopters, which could neither land nor hover at that altitude.
To facilitate the rescue, four local high-altitude climbers were to be deployed at 6,000 meters to assist in bringing down the injured climbers, who would then be airlifted to Skardu by army helicopters.
Karrar Haideri, secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, revealed that the Russian team embarked on their mission to Gasherbrum IV with the aim of retrieving the body of their fellow climber, Dmitry Golovchenko, who went missing on the mountain in 2023. The expedition, driven by a sense of closure and camaraderie, has been marred by tragedy.
Haideri confirmed that Sergei Nilov remains missing, with little information on his status. The condition of the injured climbers is critical, casting a grim outlook on their survival.
The army plans to launch another rescue operation to locate the missing climbers, including Nilov.
