GILGIT: Mountaineer Asif Bhatti has started his descent with the help of another climber after being stranded at Nanga Parbat for more than a day, according to sources.

Mr Bhatti was part of an expedition team which started the summit push on Sunday. He suffered from snow blindness and was stranded at Camp 4 — an altitude of 7,500m. The 45-year-old climber then sought help from mountaineers at the base camp for rescue.

Sources said Mr Bhatti was being accompanied by Azerbaijani climber Israfil Ashuri during the descent after he made contact with the stranded climber. They have reached Camp 3 by Tuesday.

Two Italian climbers were also present at Camp 3 where Mr Bhatti will stay the night. He will continue the descent on Wednesday morning.

Sources said Mr Bhatti was in stable condition and maintaining good health.

A group of climbers from Shimshal were also preparing a rescue mission to help Mr Bhatti. They are waiting for a helicopter to reach camp 2 as helicopters can’t fly beyond that height.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also directed the Gilgit-Baltistan and army authorities to immediately rescue the mountaineer, APP reported on Tuesday.

The directives came after Mr Bhatti’s son appealed to the prime minister on social media for the safe evacuation of his father.

The PM has instructed the GB chief secretary to contact Mr Bhatti’s son and assure him of immediate measures for his father’s rescue.

Earlier on Monday, a Polish climber was declared dead due to acute altitude sickness on Nanga Parbat.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan said Pawel Tomasz Kopec passed at a height of 7,400m. He was part of a seven-member Polish expedition team attempting to climb the peak on Sunday.

According to the Diamer DC, Mr Kopec’s fellow climbers continued with their ascent and a plan to bring back the body will be chalked up after the return of the Polish team.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2023