Russian climbers reach hospital after rescue in Pakistani Himalayas

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Two Russian climbers who had been injured on the slopes of considered one of northern Pakistan’s highest mountains reached a hospital in Peshawar on Thursday, every week after they had been stranded after being hit by falling ice.

The climbers had been a part of a five-member group of Russian climbers that was making an attempt to climb considered one of Gasherbrum’s peaks to retrieve the physique of a fellow climber who died there final 12 months when it was hit by a pile of ice on Friday.

Rescuers airlifted two of the mountaineers Monday, however two others remained caught on the bottom camp due to their accidents and dangerous climate till Wednesday. Akhtar Hussain, a police official in Skardu, a metropolis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, mentioned the Russians had been transported to a hospital by ambulance, and had been in steady situation.

Karrar Haidri, the secretary of the Alpine Membership of Pakistan, informed The Related Press that climbers Mikhail Mironov and Sergei Mironov are getting the most effective medical care at a hospital in Skardu. He mentioned the seek for the fifth climber, Sergei Nilov, had been referred to as off as he’s presumed lifeless.

Hussain mentioned docs offered medical care to the 2 injured climbers. “They’re unhappy over the loss of life of their fifth colleague, however are grateful to the Pakistani rescuers and the military for making efforts to save lots of their life,” he mentioned.

He mentioned one wanted solely minor medical care, whereas the opposite had bruises on his legs and arms as a result of he was hit by the pile of ice on Friday

Haidri mentioned the climbers had been absolutely conscious of the hazards linked to the mission once they started expedition to retrieve the physique of their colleague whodied in 2023 on the identical mountain whereas attempting to scale it.

Lots of of climbers attempt to scale mountains in northern Pakistan yearly, and accidents are frequent due to avalanches and sudden climate adjustments. This month, a Pakistani climber Murad Sadpara, 35, identified for collaborating in high-altitude rescue missions died throughout a descent from one of many nation’s tallest mountains within the north.