Islamabad: Pakistani authorities were continuing their search operation on Sunday to rescue three Russian climbers who went missing on Gasherbrum IV, 17th highest mountain on earth.
A five-member team of Russian climbers led by Sergei Nilov, who survived a tragic accident last summer, was on a mission to retrieve the body of climber Dmitry Golovchenko at the 7,925-metre Gasherbrum IV. Golovchenko died during the climb with Nilov.
Golovchenko and Nilov won two Piolet d’Or awards together for their daring ascents of treacherous peaks in the past.
The Russian team encountered a catastrophic event during their ascent. On Saturday, the Pakistan army initiated a rescue operation and successfully evacuated two climbers to Skardu for medical treatment. (DPA)