A shepherd has discovered the body of a man who vanished nearly three decades ago from a glacier exposed by melting ice in Pakistan. Omar Khan, a local shepherd, found Naseeruddin’s body intact in the Supat Valley on August 1. The discovery was confirmed after an identity card with Naseeruddin’s name was recovered.
Naseeruddin disappeared in June 1997 during a snowstorm while travelling with his brother Kathiruddin. A family dispute led them to leave their home and migrate to the Alai tehsil region. Naseeruddin stepped into a cave after arriving in the valley, but he was never found.
Experts say the discovery highlights the impact of climate change on glacial melt. Glacier conditions can preserve bodies, preventing decomposition. The freeze and low oxygen levels cause mummification. Climate change is altering landscapes across northern regions, including parts of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to a 2023 report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Himalayan glaciers could lose up to two-thirds of their volume by the end of the century if emissions persist.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/pakistan-glacier-body-found-missing-b2803077.html