ABBOTTABAD: The remains of a man missing for 28 years have been recovered from a melting glacier in the remote Lady Valley of Kohistan, shedding light on a decades-old mystery.
Identified as Naseeruddin, alias Hajo, son of Bahram from the Saleh Khel tribe, the body was discovered on August 1 by a local shepherd, Umar Khan. The identification was confirmed through a national identity card found in his pocket. According to eyewitnesses, the extreme cold preserved his clothes and physical features remarkably well.
Family members revealed that Naseeruddin had vanished in 1997 after reportedly falling into a glacial crevasse with his horse while returning from the Sapit Valley. Despite extensive search efforts, no trace was found at the time, and he was declared missing. His body surfaced now as the glacier melted.
Locals recalled that in the years following his disappearance, the family was forced to migrate from Pallas Valley to Alai tehsil due to a violent feud. His younger brother, Gardezi, was killed in what was described as an honour-related dispute, leaving the family entangled in legal troubles. Both Naseeruddin and another brother, Kaseeruddin, reportedly lived in hiding during that period.
Kaseeruddin, who was with him at the time of the incident, told The Express Tribune that they had taken a risky route through the mountains to avoid potential attackers. He recalled hearing gunshots during their journey. In an attempt to escape, Naseeruddin sought shelter in an icy cave but never emerged. A symbolic funeral prayer was later offered at the site when searches failed to recover the body.
Now, 28 years later, Kaseeruddin has returned to Lady Valley to decide whether the remains will be buried locally or taken to their ancestral home.
Experts say the preservation was possible due to the glacier’s unique environment. Dr Muhammad Bilal of COMSATS University Abbottabad explained that freezing temperatures, low humidity, reduced oxygen, and snow cover inside glaciers contribute to natural mummification, allowing bodies to remain intact for decades.
Dr Adnan Ahmad Tahir added that glaciers in northern Pakistan are melting at an alarming rate, accelerated by unprecedented heat in July 2025, which has exposed long-hidden remains and artifacts.
Kohistan Additional Deputy Commissioner Aminul Hassan noted that accessing Lady Valley is extremely difficult, requiring a three-hour drive followed by 15 to 18 hours of trekking. The area, rich in pastures, lakes, and forests, is primarily visited during summer by local herders.
