GILGIT: A Russian expedition on Gasherbrum IV has met with disaster as an avalanche struck at an altitude of 6,400 meters, leaving Sergey Nilov, an acclaimed climber, missing and two others critically injured.
In a conversation with HUM News English, Alpine Club of Pakistan Secretary Karrar Haideri said the five-member team, including Sergey Nilov, Mikhail Mironov, Sergei Minronov, Alexy Bautin, and Evgenii Lablokov, was on a mission to recover the body of Dmitry Golovchenko, a Russian climber who perished last year on the same peak.
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The climbers were ascending the treacherous slopes of Gasherbrum IV, which towers at 7,925 meters in the Ghanche district, when disaster struck at an altitude of 6,400 meters on Saturday.
According Hiaderi, an ice formation, possibly a serac, collapsed, triggering a massive avalanche that engulfed the team. Sergey Nilov, a climber of exceptional repute, was reported missing following the incident. Meanwhile, Mikhail Mironov and Sergei Mironov managed to escape but suffered severe injuries.
Alexy Bautin and Evgenii Lablokov were safely airlifted by Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters to Skardu. A search operation is ongoing to locate the missing climbers.
Haider siad the team’s mission was driven by a solemn commitment to bring closure to the tragic death of Dmitry Golovchenko, who had fallen to his death from an altitude of 7,684 meters during an alpine-style ascent of Gasherbrum IV in 2023. Although Sergey Nilov had safely returned to base camp after the incident, Golovchenko’s body remained unrecovered.
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Karrar Haideri expressed the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the perilous nature of Gasherbrum IV, notorious for its hazardous terrain. “The unforgiving nature of Gasherbrum IV turned their noble mission into a fight for survival,” he remarked.
“The possibility that Nilov may still be alive hangs in the balance, intensifying the anguish of all involved,” Haideri added.
Haider said army helicopters would launch another rescue effort to locate the three missing climbers, including Sergei Nilov.