K2 summit: Search resumes for missing Ali Sadpara, team members

ISLAMABAD: A major search operation has resumed Sunday morning after Pakistani mountaineer Ali Sadpara and his two companions lost contact during a summit to K2.

Pakistan Army helicopters are taking part in the operation.

Sadpara, John Snorri (Iceland) and Juan Pablo Mohr (Chile) had been missing since Saturday.

Helicopters reportedly flew to a height of 7,000 metres on Saturday afternoon in their attempt to locate the missing mountaineers but were unable to find any clue to their whereabouts, Geo News reported.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari referred to Sadpara is a proud hero of the nation and urged the government to make his safe return back their top priority.

Sadpara and his team had successfully summited the 8,611-metre K2 — the world’s second highest mountain — late Friday, a month after their first attempt failed. However, their support teams have since then cautioned that the climbers’ status is still unclear and there has been no communication from their end.

Sadpara, Snorri and Mohr had departed for their journey a day after Sadpara’s birthday in the wee hours of Wednesday, asking fans and admirers to “keep us in your prayers”.

They had started their attempt for the final summit in the early hours of Friday, hoping to accomplish the herculean feat by Friday afternoon.