ISLAMABAD: A total of 19 climbers scaled K2 on Thursday, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) announced.

The climbers reached the summit between 3am and 7am.

The successful climbers were from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Nepal, Brazil, Argentina, the United States and Pakistan.

Three Pakistanis were among those who summited the 8,611 metre Savage Mountain. Sajid Ali Sadpara summited at 6:30am, following Dilawar Hussain at 7:10am and Yousuf Hushe at 7:20am.

The ACP announced that Nirmal Purja captured his tenth 8,000-er in just over three months, counting from when he stood on the summit of Annapurna in Nepal on April 23.

Adrian Ballinger and Carla Perez climbed without supplementary oxygen, the ACP said.

“In addition, a large number of climbers have summited after the trail was opened and fixed with ropes,” Mr Haidri said.

The ACP also quoted Maria Cardell as saying that her husband Denis Urubko, who has already summited Gasherbrum II, plans to open a new route on the mountain. Contrary to their original plan, she will not be joining him due to a back injury and he will be climbing alone.

An American climber was seriously injured after she fell from a height near Uzum Brakk on the Biafo Hispar Glacier and was immediately evacuated to Skardu.

ACP said Michelle Marco had multiple injuries from the fall. She was evacuated along with fellow American climber Patrick Light for medical treatment and trauma management.

Both climbers were successfully evacuated from Uzum Brakk, which is at a height of 15,000 feet, by military helicopters.

“The injured climber was airlifted swiftly and timely, saving her life,” ACP Secretary Karrar Haidri said.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2019