Tragic Nanga Parbat Fall Claims Czech Climber’s Life

Klára Kolouchová, wearing a red down jacket and pink headband, smiles slightly while standing in a rocky alpine area with a snow-covered mountain in the background.

First woman climber from the Czech Republic Kolouchova Klara reportedly dies during expedition of Nanga Parbat. — Reporter

On July 3, 2025, 46‑year‑old Czech mountaineer Klára Kolouchová died in a tragic fall on Nanga Parbat, known as the “Killer Mountain,” while descending between Camp 1 and Camp 2. Sources differ, with early speculation of an oxygen-cylinder explosion, but officials later confirmed that she fell into a ravine at around 4 am local time, and her body remains at the site pending recovery.

Kolouchová climbed alongside her husband and five teammates, reaching Base Camp on June 17 after arriving in Pakistan on June 15. Diamir Additional Deputy Commissioner Nizamuddin reported that her team returned with the news of her death and that rescue operations are complicated by the extreme terrain. They are coordinating a helicopter recovery mission scheduled for July 4, aided by local high-altitude porters and ground teams.

Known for her cautious climbing – she aborted her first Nanga Parbat attempt after reaching the Kinshofer Wall – Kolouchová was nonetheless a remarkable alpinist. She was the first Czech woman to summit the world’s top three peaks – Everest, K2, and Kangchenjunga – and had also climbed Cho Oyu, Annapurna in 2024, and attempted Dhaulagiri this spring. A mother of two, she had set her sights on completing all 14 of the 8,000-meter giants.

Climbing conditions this season have been unusually harsh: high temperatures have depleted snow cover below Camp 3, exposing rocky terrain and causing frequent rockfalls. Despite these hazards, Kolouchová and her team pressed on.

Pakistani authorities, including the Alpine Club of Pakistan and Diamir officials like Nizamuddin and Secretary Karrar Haidri, have expressed deep sorrow and pledged full support for rescue and recovery efforts. Haidri described Kolouchová as “an inspiration to climbers worldwide”.

As recovery operations continue, attention on Nanga Parbat remains intense, with several climbers -including Horia Colibasanu, Allie Pepper, and Tashfeen – making final summit pushes amid the mountain’s treacherous environment.

This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in high-altitude mountaineering, even for the most experienced climbers. Klára Kolouchová’s legacy endures through her extraordinary achievements and the courage she showed atop some of the world’s tallest and most daunting peaks.

Klára Kolouchová climbing on rocky terrain with patches of snow, wearing a light green vest and black jacket, looking up and smiling at the camera.
First woman climber from the Czech Republic Kolouchova Klara reportedly dies during expedition of Nanga Parbat. — Reporter

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