• Climber struck by falling rock; her companion safe
• Rescue efforts hampered by harsh weather

GILGIT: German biathlete and double Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier went missing after being struck by a falling rock during her attempt to scale the 6,096-metre Laila Peak in the Hushe Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan.

She was climbing in alpine style with her partner, Marina Eva, also from Germany. According to Ayaz Shigri, Secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Dahlmeier was at an altitude of approximately 5,700 metres when she was hit by the rock on Monday afternoon.

Eva was below her on the mountain at the time. Despite being injured, Dahlmeier managed to communicate with her partner, but Eva was unable to reach her.

A coordinated rescue operation was launched, involving Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters and local high-altitude porters. However, adverse weather and the difficult terrain prevented helicopters from landing at the accident site.

Marina Eva, however, successfully descended to base camp and is reported to be in good health.

In the meantime, army helicopters evacuated two American climbers from the Gasherbrum-I base camp, as well as one German and another American climber from Latok Peak. Search efforts for Dahlmeier continued, with foreign teams and Pakistan Army helicopters involved in aerial reconnaissance of the peak, but she has not yet been located.

Rescue efforts by air resumed on Tuesday, with ground teams on standby awaiting an improvement in weather conditions.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2025