High in the Himalayas, Nanda Devi held a secret mission in 1965. The CIA launched a team of American and Indian mountaineers, aiming to spy on China, which had tested its first nuclear bomb in 1964, raising US concerns.
The mission involved installing a unique device on the peak—a portable nuclear generator named SNAP-19C. Powered by plutonium, it was to energize an antenna to intercept Chinese missile test signals. Weighing approximately 50 pounds, the device contained plutonium-238 and 239—the same type used in the Nagasaki bomb.
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Source: aajtak
The mission kicked off with a cocktail party where USAF General Curtis LeMay spoke with National Geographic photographer Barry Bishop, who had conquered Everest. The CIA tasked Bishop to lead the team, choosing climbers like Jim McCarthy. The Indian side was led by Captain MS Kohli, renowned for leading an Everest expedition.
Masquerading as scientific research, the true mission was covert. However, as they approached the summit in October 1965, harsh weather ensued. A blizzard struck, prompting Captain Kohli to order via radio an evacuation, leaving the device behind, secured in a snow cave.
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Source: aajtak
Upon return in 1966, the site had vanished under an avalanche. Several search missions yielded no results. Captain Kohli reflected they'd never have left it had they recognized the risk. Jim McCarthy, the last living American climber, recalled already raising warnings.
Nanda Devi's glaciers feed the Ganges River, lifeline to millions. Plutonium is highly toxic—potentially causing cancer, and bone and lung disease. Scientists argue the immense water dilutes contamination risks, though fear remains for locals if the device fractures. The specter of a 'dirty bomb'—usable by terrorists—is the greatest fear.
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Source: aajtak
In 1978, an American journalist broke the story, inciting outrage in India. Prime Minister Morarji Desai initiated an investigation but urged secrecy with the US, which President Jimmy Carter appreciated, aiding suppression of public uproar.
Climate change accelerates glacier melting; a massive avalanche in 2021 claimed 200 lives. Some blame the device. Indian MPs and locals demand answers. Captain Kohli, recently deceased, called it a sorrowful chapter of his life. The CIA maintains silence, perpetuating this Cold War mystery under the Himalayan snows. Until the device resurfaces, the risk—and uncertainty—endures.
