Pakistani mountaineer found dead after solo trek in KP mountains

MANSEHRA: The search for a young Pakistani mountaineer who went missing while trekking alone in the mountains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ended in tragedy, officials said, after his body was recovered from deep snow following hours of rescue efforts in severe weather.

Inayat Gulzar, who had been attempting to summit Machai Sar Top in the Torghar district (formerly part of Mansehra), left for a solo trek on January 22 but lost contact after being caught in a snowstorm, police and rescue officials said.

Rescue 1122 teams, assisted by local volunteers, launched a search operation after his disappearance was reported on January 23.

The operation was hampered by heavy snowfall and poor visibility, but resumed the following day when weather conditions improved.

“The body was recovered from under the snow after several hours of trekking on foot,” Rescue 1122 said in a statement, adding that the remains were transported to an ambulance after a long overland journey.

Police said Gulzar had last spoken to a close friend by phone on the night of January 23, telling him that he was returning after successfully reaching the summit but was physically exhausted and unable to move properly. His phone was later switched off.

Adventure Traveller

Gulzar, a resident of Mansehra, was an adventure traveller and mountaineer who had worked in Pakistan’s tourism sector for about five years.

Through video blogs, he promoted lesser-known mountainous regions and had previously summited several peaks above 15,000 feet, including Tiger Peak, friends said.

He often travelled alone on difficult routes, driven by his passion for adventure, according to people close to him.

Following his death, a short artificial intelligence-generated video shared on social media days earlier by Gulzar has drawn attention online.

In the video, he appears stranded on a snow-covered mountain calling for help. Friends said the video was meant as a creative project and was not taken seriously at the time.

Local residents have urged the provincial government to announce financial assistance for Gulzar’s family, citing his contribution to promoting tourism in the region at a young age.

Mountaineer Nadeem Sarwar said that travellers should closely monitor weather forecasts before undertaking treks, noting that heavy snowfall had been predicted in upper Mansehra on January 22 and 23.

“Strong icy winds in these areas can quickly immobilise the human body, and prolonged exposure can be fatal,” he said, warning that solo expeditions in such conditions carry serious risks.