GILGIT: Renowned Pakistani Mountaineer Murad Sadpara Dies in Rockfall on Broad Peak, the world’s 12th highest mountain at 8,051 meters. Murad, 35, was struck by a rockfall at 5,200 meters while serving as a porter and guide for Portuguese climber Maria Conceição.
Karrar Haidari, Secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, confirmed that Mountaineer Murad Sadpara Dies in Rockfall on Broad Peak. Murad had been hired to accompany the team to Camp 3. The team turned back without summiting due to poor conditions. During the descent, a rock struck Murad’s head despite his helmet.
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Rescue efforts were delayed by bad weather. Eventually, two climbers reached Murad’s location but found he had already succumbed to his injuries. Murad’s body was retrieved and brought to the Japanese Base Camp. It will be transported to his native village of Sadpara for burial.
Murad Sadpara was a celebrated figure in Pakistan’s mountaineering community. He held the record for summiting Nanga Parbat in six days and led this year’s K-2 cleanup expedition. He was also involved in recovering the body of Muhammad Hassan, a porter who died at K2’s Bottleneck last year.
Call for urgent reforms in rescue operations
In a heartfelt statement, ace climber Naila Kiani highlighted the critical issues surrounding the rescue operation for Murad Sadpara. She stressed that valuable time was lost due to administrative delays, saying, “Perhaps if we had reached Murad sooner, today’s news might have been different.”
Kiani also pointed out the challenges of helicopter rescues in Pakistan. She noted that helicopters are military-owned, and support is provided on a humanitarian basis. While Askari Aviation offers private services, they also use Army helicopters, and the cost is significantly higher than in other countries.
Looking ahead, Kiani called for revising SOPs to avoid future delays. She emphasized the need for immediate contact with the right people and suggested obtaining an NOC for a private helicopter service or having Askari purchase a private helicopter. This would reduce reliance on military resources and lower costs, making rescues more efficient.
