Tragic Incident on K2: Pakistan Initiates Probe into Porter’s Death
The government of Gilgit-Baltistan has taken a significant step by forming an inquiry committee to investigate the tragic demise of Muhammad Hassan, a Pakistani high-altitude porter, on K2 last month.
Disturbing videos and images circulated on social media showing a group of climbers passing by Hassan after he had fallen from a ledge. Tragically, the porter lost his life a few hours later at the bottleneck, an elevation of 8,200 meters.
Responding to the viral footage, the Tourism, Sports, and Culture Department of GB established this investigation committee on August 7 to uncover the truth surrounding the incident.
The committee’s mission is not only to unravel the events leading up to Hassan’s death on July 27 but also to assess whether he should have been permitted to ascend the mountain based on his mountaineering expertise in the first place.
The committee’s key responsibilities include:
a) Investigating the circumstances of the accident, including mountain conditions like avalanches, and the factors contributing to the incident.
b) Evaluating the actions of the expedition group Hassan was a part of and determining if adequate efforts were made to rescue him after his fall while securing ropes.
c) Reviewing the condition of Hassan’s climbing equipment and ascertaining who authorized him to climb with potentially inadequate gear for high-altitude expeditions given his experience.
d) Verifying the accounts of fellow porters and sherpas regarding Hassan’s gear and the condition of his oxygen mask during the accident.
e) Providing information about the services and employment status of 30 high-altitude porters (HAPs) recently trained through Snow School Rattu, along with details about their assignments.
f) Assessing the impact of the training provided to HAPs on high-altitude expeditions, particularly concerning safety, preparedness, and adherence to established protocols.
While Norwegian climber Kristin Harila and her Nepalese mountain guide Tenjen Sherpa achieved the world’s fastest climb of all peaks above 8,000 meters in just over three months, they, along with over 100 other climbers, have faced criticism for not aiding Hassan.
Harila maintains that they did everything possible to save Hassan, emphasizing the challenging circumstances of the narrow path and the extreme conditions at that altitude.
Amidst social media backlash, Harila clarified on Instagram that Hassan was in a precarious position, upside down on a rope between ice anchors, without proper gear. Her team’s efforts to secure him were disrupted by an avalanche.
Harila’s account highlights the complexities and challenges of rescue operations in high-altitude environments. The incident underscores the difficult decisions climbers face while balancing the safety of all involved.
