On Thursday morning, Pakistani mountaineer Asif Bhatti arrived at Camp 2 on Nanga Parbat, from where he would be flown to base camp by an army chopper.
In addition to Azerbaijani climber Israfeel, who has been with him the entire route, he received assistance from two climbers who climbed up from Camp 2 to aid him down. It is reported that Bhatti is in good health.
On Wednesday, Bhatti began to descend towards Camp 2 of the Nanga Parbat while the helicopter rescue effort was postponed for a second day owing to severe weather.
Bhatti had spent the previous night stuck in the Camp 3 of Nanga Parbat—also referred to the “killer mountain”. Two Italian mountaineers and one Azerbaijani mountaineer are with him.
Due to snow blindness, the Pakistani mountaineer was reported to be trapped on Monday. At Nanga Parbat, he has been trapped for more than two days.
Tuesday saw Bhatti still stuck at Nanga Parbat, more than 8,000 meters above sea level, while the helicopter rescue effort had to be delayed because of severe winds.
On Tuesday, the 45-year-old mountaineer arrived at camp 3 on the Nanga Parbat. A Pakistan Army chopper flew to the base camp of Nanga Parbat earlier in the day to bring the climber to safety.
But because of the high snow gusts, the plan had to be delayed until tomorrow (Wednesday). Israfeel has gotten Bhatti close to camp three.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the Gilgit-Baltistan and Army officials to promptly rescue climber Asif Bhatti. The instructions were issued in response to a social media plea by the mountaineer’s son to the prime minister for his father’s safe evacuation.
PM Shehbaz Sharif gave the GB chief secretary instructions to get in touch with Bhatti’s son and reassure him that there will be prompt action taken to rescue the trapped climber.
Attempts on Monday to rescue:
Due to the mountain’s great elevation, the Pakistani climber Dr. Asif Bhatti, who is stuck at camp four of Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters), was unable to be rescued on Monday, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
Due to snow blindness, Bhatti was reported to be stopped at 8,000 metres of elevation around 7:10 p.m. on Monday. The 45-year-old mountain climber had set out to conquer Nanga Parbat, popularly referred to as the “killer mountain.”
