Concern grows for missing climbers in Pakistan mountain

Islamabad: Feelings of triumph over the first winter ascent of Gasherbrum-1 by a Polish team were marred by growing concern on Tuesday over the fate of three other climbers last seen high on the Pakistani mountain five days ago, battling temperatures of 70 below zero and ferocious winds.

The three — an Austrian, a Swiss and a Pakistani — were just short of the summit in the Karakoram range when they were spotted on Friday by a Polish team that was descending after it had reached the top of the 8,611 metre-high peak.

Pakistan Alpine Club president Manzoor Hussain said he hoped weather might allow a helicopter to circle the peak later on Tuesday to try and locate the missing men. Cloud and high winds had prevented any aircraft getting near the mountain since Friday.

Hussain said he feared the men were dead. "Frankly, there is no possibility of them surviving a night or two up there," he said. "I feel we have lost them."