The body of Pakistani climber Dr. Asma Mushtaq, who died while descending Spantik Mountain last month, has been recovered following a prolonged search operation in difficult weather conditions.
Deputy Commissioner Shigar Sher Afzal said local mountaineers recovered the body during the search operation and have started transporting it toward the base camp.
According to the deputy commissioner, the team carrying the body has reached Camp II. However, fresh snowfall has continued at higher altitudes since the evening, which could affect the descent.
He said the team is expected to reach the base camp tomorrow if weather conditions do not cause further disruption.
Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the search and rescue team had located Dr. Mushtaq’s remains beyond Camp 3 on Spantik peak in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said the team was assessing conditions at the site and making arrangements for the safe recovery and controlled evacuation of the body to base camp due to the risks associated with the high-altitude terrain.
Dr. Mushtaq died on August 20 after suffering a serious high-altitude medical emergency while descending from the 7,027-meter-high Spantik Mountain in the Karakoram range, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
Efforts to retrieve her body were repeatedly affected by severe weather. The operation was previously suspended after heavy snowfall and strong winds forced the rescue team to turn back while approaching Camp 3.
The team resumed the mission from base camp after weather conditions improved and headed toward Camp 2.
Five days earlier, Tarar had said rescuers reached the suspected location of the body, but heavy snowfall over the previous two days had completely covered it, making the search extremely difficult.
“Because the place is very large and due to heavy snowfall over the past two days, the body is now completely covered under the snow,” he had said at the time.
High-altitude porters were expected to reach Camp 3 and bring the body down to base camp, but worsening weather prevented them from proceeding at one stage.
A helicopter was later authorized to assist with the retrieval operation, with coordination established between the Gilgit-Baltistan government and the Force Command Northern Areas.
Alternative arrangements were also made for the operation, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was kept updated on the situation throughout.
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