A man found after 28 years in a glacier has stunned villagers in Pakistan’s Kohistan region. Local shepherd Omar Khan made the discovery while tending to livestock near the Lady Valley glacier. He spotted a fully clothed human figure emerging from melting ice.
Authorities later identified the body as Naseeruddin, a 33-year-old man who disappeared during a snowstorm in 1997. He had been hiking with his brother, Kathiruddin, when the weather turned. The brothers took shelter in a cave, but only Kathiruddin returned.
Clothing and Identity Remained Intact
When Khan approached the body, he noticed the clothing was largely undamaged. Inside one pocket, he found a dry identification card. After confirming the name, Khan alerted nearby residents, who then informed the family.
Kathiruddin immediately recognised his long-lost brother. He described the moment as painful but relieving. After nearly three decades, the family finally knows what happened.
Natural Preservation Stuns Experts
The man found after 28 years in a glacier remained remarkably preserved. Experts explained that extreme cold, low oxygen levels, and dry air helped prevent decomposition. These conditions created a natural mummification effect. Similar cases have occurred in the Alps and Andes, but they remain rare in South Asia.
This case offers scientists new insights into how glacial environments preserve human remains. Researchers are already studying the site for clues about local climate history.
Climate Change Exposes Remains
As global temperatures rise, Pakistan’s glaciers are melting faster than ever before. These changes are revealing what lay hidden for years. The man found after 28 years in a glacier serves as a stark example.
Environmental scientists say more such discoveries are likely. Dozens of people, namely climbers, shepherds, and travellers, vanished in the northern mountains during the last century. Melting glaciers may now return their stories to the surface.
Family Receives Long-awaited Closure
Naseeruddin’s family plans to bury him according to local traditions. They are deciding whether to do so in the mountains where he lay for so long, or in their home village.
Kathiruddin expressed gratitude for the chance to bring his brother home.
“We waited many years. Now, at last, we can honour him.”
