Gilgit-Baltistan bids farewell to Sohail Sakhi as mountaineer laid to rest in hometown

Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi was laid to rest in his hometown of Aliabad in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Hunza on Sunday following a funeral service attended by numerous individuals. An estimated 10-member expedition he was part of went missing on July 30 due to a fatal avalanche on Broad Peak, one of the world's highest peaks. Sakhi's body was found on August 13 and brought to the mountain's base camp, where it was transported to Aliabad on Sunday morning.

The ill-fated expedition was led by renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, whose remains were recovered on August 2.

So far, eight of the ten climbers from the expedition have been found, with the search continuing for American climber Sarah Mallory-Geis and Nepal’s Nawang Thindu Sherpa. Pakistani Army helicopters airlifted Sakhi's body from the Broad Peak base camp on Saturday, before it was transported to Nasirabad and Aliabad on Sunday. His funeral prayers were held at Aliabad College Ground, where GB Tourism and Culture Minister Naiknam Karim paid tribute to the brave climber, describing his death as a loss for both GB and Pakistan.

Karim emphasized that the climber "loved mountains" and had made a significant name for himself in a short period of time. He also conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family. Sakhi, who was 30 years old, often served as a rope-fixing team leader and frequently volunteered for rescue operations on mountains. The GB government announced that they would pay Rs3 million to Sakhi's family under an insurance policy for local porters, climbers, and mountain guides.