Body found in glacier linked to disappearances

A local man identified as Naseeruddin disappeared in 1997 while traveling with his brother in northern Pakistan; his remains were found this week as glaciers melt.

Body of man missing 28 years found in melting glacier

In the Kohistan region of northern Pakistan, a shepherd uncovered a body inside a melting glacier in the Lady Valley on August 1. Authorities say the remains belong to a local man who disappeared in June 1997 during a journey with his brother. An ID card bearing the name Naseeruddin was found with the body, which was said to be unusually well preserved due to the cold, dry conditions inside the glacier. Attacks on the route and a retreat into a snow cave are described as possible factors in the disappearance. A large search and rescue effort at the time did not locate him. The discovery comes as climate change accelerates glacial melt in the region, exposing long hidden remains and reshaping travel routes for hikers and locals alike. Researchers note that glaciers preserve bodies for decades when conditions are right, then release them as ice recedes.

This find underscores how climate change is rewriting the map of life in high mountain areas. Glacial melt not only reshapes landscapes but also memory, turning ice into a fragile record of past events. The discovery prompts reflection on remote search efforts and the limits of local infrastructure in danger zones. At the same time, it highlights how personal histories intersect with regional tensions, including family disputes that can escalate into violence. Journalists reporting from such regions must balance empathy with restraint to avoid sensationalism while helping communities understand what the melt means for safety, history, and memory.

Highlights

As the ice dissolves, so too will some old stories and perhaps new questions about how we protect people in dangerous landscapes.