German Mountain Climber Dies at Nanga Parbat in Pakistan
Pakistan Times National News Bureau Report

ISLAMABAD: A German mountaineer in his 60s was feared dead after a fall while descending Pakistan's second highest peak, Nanga Parbat, expedition officials said on Monday.

The man was part of a six-member German expedition that set off in May to climb the 26,658-foot [8,125-m] peak, whose name in Urdu means "Naked Mountain."

The Incident

Pakistan's first independent daily web newspaper, 'Pakistan Times' understands that the accident happened last week ahead of the 51th anniversary of the peak's conquest by a German climber.

"He slipped when he was descending along with his colleagues," said Esar Karim, the tour operator who organized the trip, adding that the team had successfully reached the summit.

The remaining members of the expedition returned safely, added Karim, who identified the missing man as Gunter Jung.

A German embassy spokesman confirmed a national was feared dead, but declined to give his name. "We are still waiting for information from the Pakistani authorities," he said.

Killer Mountain

Nanga Parbat, also known as "Killer Mountain" for the risks associated with ascents, is the ninth highest mountain in the world and the westernmost mountain of the Himalayas.

Hermann Buhl, a German, was the first climber to reach the peak of Nanga Parbat on July 3, 1953, climbing Web sites say.

Pakistan's remote north boasts five of world's 14 peaks higher than 8,000 meters.●