On July 31, a shepherd in Kohistan’s Supat Valley discovered the body of Naseeruddin, who vanished in June 1997. The remains were remarkably preserved by rapid freezing in glacial ice, and an identity card confirmed his identity, bringing closure to his family. Scientists note that Pakistan’s roughly 7,000 glaciers are retreating due to climate change, and as ice melts worldwide, more preserved human remains and artifacts are likely to surface.
Man Found Mummified After 28 Years in Pakistani Glacier Sparks Climate Concerns
Missing Man Found Mummified in Ice 28 Years LaterAndyborodaty - Getty Images
A 31-year-old Pakistani man identified as Naseeruddin, who disappeared in June 1997 from an ice cave in the Supat Valley of Kohistan, has been found remarkably well preserved after lying encased in glacial ice for 28 years. The remains were discovered on July 31 by a local shepherd, bringing an end to a decades-long search by his family.
Family Search and Discovery
Relatives had repeatedly searched the rugged highlands in hopes of finding him. “Our family left no stone unturned to trace him over the years,” said Malik Ubaid, the nephew of the missing man. On July 31, shepherd Omar Khan found the body; an identity card found with the remains confirmed the man’s identity. Khan told BBC Urdu he was astonished the clothing was intact and the body appeared preserved.
How Glaciers Preserve Bodies
Scientists say rapid freezing inside glacial ice can mummify soft tissue by blocking moisture and oxygen, slowing decomposition. Pakistan is home to roughly 7,000 glaciers—the largest concentration outside the polar regions—and like other ice masses worldwide, many are retreating as the climate warms.
Climate Change Role
In parts of northern Pakistan, reduced winter snowfall and stronger direct sunlight in warmer seasons have accelerated surface melting. That gradual retreat of ice exposed Naseeruddin’s remains and ended a painful mystery for his family. “Finally, we have got some relief after the recovery of his dead body,” Ubaid said.
Glaciers as Time Capsules
Glaciers act as natural archives of the past. Researchers routinely drill ice cores to study past climates using trapped air bubbles and isotopic records, and glacial ice occasionally yields remarkably preserved human remains and artifacts. The most famous example is Ötzi, the Iceman, recovered from the Alps in 1991 with soft tissues and organs that provided unique insights into Neolithic life.
However, even well-preserved finds show signs of dehydration and partial decomposition because natural freezing in the wild does not equal laboratory cryogenic preservation. Similar discoveries—such as recovered World War I soldiers and long-lost climbers on Everest—underscore both the scientific value and the sensitivities involved when human remains surface.
Why This Matters
The recovery of Naseeruddin is a solemn reminder of the human toll of mountaineering accidents and climate change’s power to expose long-hidden stories. As glaciers continue to retreat, more remains and artifacts are likely to emerge—some tragic, some of archaeological or historical importance.
Authorities and researchers urge respectful handling of such discoveries: remains should be reported to local officials and, where appropriate, researchers should collaborate with families and communities to ensure dignified recovery and forensic study. The discovery in Kohistan emphasizes the need for preparedness as climate change reveals more of the past.
