Pakistani mountaineer killed in avalanche on K2

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani mountaineer perished on Friday after an avalanche swept through a climbing route near Camp 1 on K2, the nation’s tallest and most perilous peak, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP).

The climber, Iftikhar Hussain Sadpara from Skardu, was killed in the incident, which also involved three others in his group.

The avalanche hit around 2:30 p.m. Friday, according to the ACP, catching the four climbers near the mountain’s lower camp. Two descended safely to base camp, while a foreign mountaineer suffered minor injuries. Sadpara, however, did not survive. His body was recovered shortly after the incident and returned to base camp, from where a Pakistan Army helicopter airlifted it to Skardu, a hub in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, for burial in his home village.

ACP President Major General Irfan Arshad expressed deep sorrow, calling Sadpara’s death “a profound tragedy for Pakistan’s climbing community.” In a statement, he extended condolences to the climber’s family, friends, and fellow mountaineers, pledging the club’s full support during their time of grief.

Karrar Haidri, the ACP’s senior vice president, also mourned the loss, praising Sadpara’s dedication. “Iftikhar Hussain’s commitment and contributions to the sport of mountaineering were inspiring, and his loss is deeply felt by all who knew him,” Haidri said.

Located in the Karakoram mountain range, roughly 10 kilometers north of Gasherbrum IV, the peak towers at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet), making K2 the world’s second-highest mountain. Its steep, ice-laden slopes and unpredictable weather have long cemented its reputation as one of the deadliest climbs on Earth.

Pakistan, home to five of the world’s 14 peaks exceeding 8,000 meters, known as eight-thousanders, draws adventurers from across the globe. Yet the same allure that beckons climbers often exacts a heavy price.

In 2021, the mountain claimed another prominent Pakistani climber, Mohammad Ali Sadpara, along with two companions. The trio vanished during a winter ascent, a daring bid that ended in tragedy. Authorities later declared them dead, their fate sealed by the peak’s relentless conditions.