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• Klára Kolouchová went missing after fall on Nanga Parbat
• Pakistan Army deploys helicopter for recovery efforts
• 11 climbers successfully scale world’s ninth-highest peak
GILGIT: A coordinated search operation is underway to recover the body of Czech mountaineer Klára Kolouchová, who went missing after falling while descending Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth-highest peak at 8,126 metres.
Ms Kolouchová, 46, was part of a multinational expedition attempting to summit the mountain. Her health reportedly deteriorated at Camp 4, forcing her to abort the climb and begin her descent with Nepali Sherpa Taraman Tamang on Wednesday night.
She is believed to have slipped on a rocky section above Camp II and gone missing early Thursday morning.
According to the expedition organisers, Seven Summit Treks, the Pakistan Army has deployed a helicopter to assist in the ongoing recovery efforts, which are being supported by the ground team and Ms Kolouchová’s family.
In a statement, the organisers said, “We would also like to clarify a misreport circulating in the media. It has been incorrectly stated that the fall was caused by the explosion of an oxygen bottle. This is not true. The loud sound heard was caused by an oxygen bottle striking a rock during the fall, which created a noise resembling an explosion.”
It added, “We kindly ask everyone to help disseminate accurate information and to respect the sensitivity of this tragic situation.”
Meanwhile, 11 climbers of the same expedition successfully summited Nanga Parbat on Thursday and Friday, making them the first team to reach the peak during Pakistan’s 2024 summer climbing season.
Those who completed the summit include Pakistan’s Rana Hassan Javed and Ali Hassan, Paula Birgitta Strengell (Finland), Dorota Lidia Rasinska Samocko (Poland), Jorge Egocheaga (Spain), Allia Pepper (Australia) and five Nepali Sherpas. The climbers also fixed the route to the summit during their ascent.
Alpine Club of Pakistan Vice President Karrar Haidri expressed sorrow over Ms Kolouchová’s presumed death. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of renowned Czech mountaineer Klára Kolouchová,” he said. “She reportedly fell between Camp I and Camp II around 4am near Bunar Base Camp in Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan.”
He added that authorities and rescue teams were immediately alerted and dispatched to the site. “Recovery efforts are underway to locate and retrieve her body,” he said.
Ms Kolouchová was a celebrated mountaineer, internationally recognised as the first Czech woman to summit both Mount Everest and K2. She arrived in Pakistan on June 15, accompanied by her husband and a five-member climbing team.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and the global mountaineering community during this difficult time,” Mr Haidri said.
Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2025
