Body of man missing for 28 years emerges intact from glacier in Kohistan

ISLAMABAD: The body of a man who went missing in a glacier in the mountains of Kohistan’s Palas valley 28 years ago has been found intact and remarkably well-preserved.

According to locals, the horseman, identified as Naseeruddin, son of Bahram and a resident of Pallas village, fell from a mountain in 1997 at the age of 33. His national identity card, recovered from his pocket, showed he was born in 1964.

Hazrat Khan, a resident of Palas, told Urdu News that elders in the area often spoke of a horseman who had fallen and disappeared in the mountains. Over time, various stories became attached to the location — some referred to it as “bloody snow,” turning the glacier into a symbol of fear.

Also read: Late Murad Sadpara’s family still awaits payment for K2 cleanup effort

“There is a mountain pass between the glaciers near Lady Palas village that people used to travel through in the old days. That’s where the young man went missing,” he said.

Locals said Naseeruddin’s younger brother, Kaseeruddin, was with him at the time of the incident but survived miraculously.

They added that Naseeruddin’s family had been forced to leave their native village due to a longstanding enmity. One day, while passing through the area, his horse fell into a deep ravine. Search efforts continued for several days but yielded no results.

Abdul Qayoom, a rescue official in Kohistan, said various accounts later emerged about the incident.

Some believed Naseeruddin had been pushed due to the family feud, but witnesses confirmed that his brother and another local man were with him at the time of the incident.

How was the body found?

On August 2, a local shepherd spotted something on the snow. Upon approaching, he discovered a body wearing a waistcoat with its clothing still intact. An identity card in the pocket confirmed it was Naseeruddin.

PTI protest to go on without Mastan Khan and his iconic golden jeep

The shepherd alerted a local man, who then informed Kaseeruddin. He retrieved the body, took it to the village for burial.

How did the body remain intact?

According to locals, the body was found in a remarkably preserved condition — with no signs of decay or odour.

Medical experts said the preservation was due to the body being trapped in ice, which prevented exposure to insects and bacteria that would typically cause decomposition.

What happened to the horse?

Despite the discovery of Naseeruddin’s body, no trace of the horse has been found. Locals believe it may also remain buried under the snow.

Residents said the Lady Glacier has been gradually melting in recent years, which likely led to the body resurfacing. Without the thaw, its recovery would have remained impossible.