Accident of China Tibet Pakistan Gasherbrum I Expedition 2005 organized by Alpine Club of Pakistan

Wolf Göschl (G2, 6400m, 2. July 2003)

1.         In accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding signed with signed in 1997 Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) is collaborating with China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA), a part of China Mountaineering Association in their quest to surmount all 14 peaks on Earth rising above 8000 metres. Pakistan houses five of these peaks. This was done to extend the close and friendly relation that exists between China and Pakistan to the mountaineering community as well. Earlier CTMA team had scaled 8035 metre high Gasherbrum II in Skardu in 1995. Since signing of MOU ACP launched First Pakistan Expedition to Mt Everest from Tibet China side in 1997, which could not succeed whereas joint China Pak Expedition succeeding in climbing 8125 metre high Nanga Parbat the same year. Later joint expedition was launched to 8047 metre high Broad Peak (2001) which was successful. In 2002 joint expedition was launched to 8611 metre high K-2 in 2002 which could not succeed due to an accident on mountain in which Capt Muhammad Iqbal, a Pakistani member died. Another joint expedition ascended K-2 in 2004 on the auspicious occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the first ascent of K-2. All the five summits were reached by Chinese and Pakistani members of the Expeditions. Till date the CTMA team had climbed 13 such peaks as a team. Mr Sam Drug is the leader of the team since 1993 when CTMA launched it bid to climb all the high peaks. It comprised 11 members, most of whom are the same who participated in the earlier climbs.  

2.         This year China - Pakistan Gasherbrum - I Expedition was launched to the 8068 metre high Gasherbrum – I, last of the CTMA’s goal to ascend all 14 high peaks as a team. This peak is situated in the vicinity of K-2 in District Skardu. The team in accordance with the MOU was provided all necessary administrative support by ACP. The team which included Mr. Xue Wen Xian, Mr. Tse Ring Dorji, Mr. Ben Ba Drashi, Mr. Phur Bu Tsering, Mr. Renar, Mr. Loze, Mr. Dra Shi Tsering, Mr. Ban Ba Dhundrup, and Mr. Phur Bu. after spending a week in Rawalpindi left for Skardu by road on 21 May 05.  The Pakistani members of the expedition include Nisar Hussain, Nazir Hussain and Mr Wazir Jaffar Shigri.   

3.         After initial preparation left Skardu early morning on 27 May for the last village Askole by jeep. As their convoy neared Askole the leading jeep was struck by rock slide hitting two of the five members sitting in the jeep seriously. While the two received head injuries remaining members received minor injuries.  The expedition immediately retreated to safety where the Army liaison officer Capt Athar Hussain accompanying the expedition called for the Army helicopter for the evacuation of the team. On reaching the information the Alpine Club officials also pursued for the evacuation. The MI-6, which also carried a doctor immediately evacuated the team to Skardu where the injured were treated at the Agency Hospital. However by that time, one of the two seriously injured members Mr Renar had expired.

4. With the joint efforts of Chinese Embassy at Islamabad and Alpine Club of Pakistan the expedition including the injured member and the dead body of the Mr Renar was evacuated to Islamabad on 28 May aboard a Pakistan Air Force C – 130 aircraft.  Lt Col (Retd) Manzoor Hussain, Executive Vice President of the Alpine Club and Mr Shan Baoxing the Cultural Councilor of the Embassy of China had flown to Skardu with a PAF doctor on the same aircraft to receive the expedition and the injured members. Later at the PAF Base Chaklala the expedition was received by the Chinese Ambassador, Mr Amir Gulistan Janjua, Mr Nazir Sabir, and other members of the ACP. The injured were treated at CMH and discharged whereas the seriously injured member Mr Ben Ba Drashi is being looked after by Army doctors at CMH ITC. The dead body of Mr Renar is also lying at CMH Mortuary.

5.         On 29 May Minister of Tourism and Secretary Tourism met Mr Sam Drug Expediiton leader and condoled with him on the tragic death of one of their members. Later the Minster accompanied by Secretary Tourism, Nazir Sabir, President ACP, other ACP officials, members of the Expedition and officials from the Embassy of China visited CMH and enquired about health of the injured member Mr Ben Ba Drashi. The Minster assured Expedition leader Mr Sam Drug of the fullest support by the Government of Pakistan during hour of their crises.

6.         The deceased Mr Renar is survived by a mountaineer wife and an eleven years old daughter. Mrs Renar climbed Mt Everest on 25 May in the company of joint Sino Japanese Women Mt Everest Expedition and is arriving back Lhasa after the successful climb. A high powered delegation is arriving on  expected that Minster of Sports of the Autonomous region of China Tibet along with a high power delegation and Mrs Renar is arriving Islamabad shortly to attend the final cremation ceremony at Rawalpindi.

7.         The programme for final cremation ceremony of late Mr Renar is as under:-

a.                  Funeral procession will start from Mortuary of CMH, Rawalpindi at 4 PM on 02 June 05 for the Cremation site.

b.                  The farewell ceremony will take place immediately after arrival of the body at the SHIMSHAN GHAT the Hindu Cremation site located on Tipu Road opposite Rawalpindi Medical College off Murree Road near Liaqat Bagh Complex in Rawalpindi and the cremation will begin at 5 PM.

8.         Later Alpine Club intends holding a Condolence Meeting on 3/4 June in the honour of late Mr Renar.  The date, time, and venue of this meet shall be intimated later.

9.         On behalf of the Alpine Club of Pakistan I request all members and well wishers of the Alpine Club to kindly make it convenient to attend the Funeral Procession and the Last Ceremony of Mr Renar.

Courtesy by: Lt Col (Retd) Manzoor Hussain,

Executive Vice President, Alpine Club of Pakistan

Source:

Asghar Ali Porik
Managing Director
M/s JASMINE TOURS
24-Canning Road, GPO box 859, 1st Floor, Ishaq Market, Saddar,
Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Tel: 0092-51-5586823 Fax: 0092-51-5584566
e-mail: info@jasminetours.com
Site: www.jasminetours.com

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