A second helicopter search today, and the third in the last two days, has turned up no sign of the missing trio of Ali Sadpara, John Snorri, and JP Mohr.
According to Chhang Dawa Sherpa, two Pakistani Army helicopters (one including Sajid Sadpara and Dawa himself) made it up to 7,800m. The searches swept the area around the Abruzzi Spur as well as other routes. Dawa reports poor visibility above Camp 4, and winds of 40kph above 6,400m.
There are no updates on any further search plans, nor about what the two Pakistani climbers who went to Camp 1 last night have managed to accomplish. Barring a miracle, there now seems little hope of finding the three climbers alive.
Aerial shots from high up on K2 this afternoon Photo: Chhang Dawa Sherpa
Elsewhere, Pakistani media are reporting that Sajid Sadpara is now back in Skardu. Social media accounts, including one from Sajid Sadpara, have posted a video interview where Sajid apparently suggests that the three climbers may have had an accident while descending the very technical Bottleneck.
Sajid Sadpara.
Various reports in the Pakistani media have also stated the three may have reached the summit before disappearing, but there is no way to know this. A proliferation of such fake reports have unfortunately appeared in recent days, alternately increasing and dashing hopes during this tragedy.
