The frozen body of a missing hiker from over 25 years ago has been discovered in a glacier, bringing closure to a long-standing mystery that originated in 1997.
Authorities were notified after finding an ID card with the name Naseeruddin on the body, which led the police to link the remains to a hiker who disappeared in June 1997 in Pakistan during a snowstorm after reportedly falling into a glacier crevice.
Shepherd Omar Khan shared his remarkable find with the BBC, describing the intact body and untouched clothing he encountered.
Following confirmation by the police that the deceased was indeed Naseeruddin, locals began shedding light on the circumstances surrounding his tragic end.
Naseeruddin, a married man with two children, had been on a horseback trek with his brother Kathiruddin when he went missing, as previously reported.
According to reports, a family dispute prompted the brothers to leave home together, reaching the Lady Valley where Naseeruddin disappeared into a cave and never emerged.
Despite extensive search efforts, Naseeruddin could not be located at the time. Nearly three decades later, his perfectly preserved body was found on August 1, protected by the glacier’s extreme conditions that naturally mummify human remains.
At the age of 33, Naseeruddin, a member of the Saleh Khel tribe, was identified through DNA tests, although his facial features were distinctive enough for family and friends to recognize him.
This discovery has dispelled earlier speculations of foul play in Naseeruddin’s disappearance, providing closure to his grieving family after years of uncertainty.
The Kohistan region, where the body was found, is known for its scenic beauty, attracting local herders during specific seasons.
This remarkable case mirrors a similar incident in Peru where climber William Stampfl’s mummified body was discovered 22 years after he went missing following an avalanche on Huascaran mountain.
Stampfl’s body remained concealed under snow for two decades despite extensive search efforts.
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