Malayali mountaineer Sheikh Hasan Khan, who had been stranded on Denali Mountain in North America, has been found safe. He and a fellow climber from Tamil Nadu were located by rescue teams, and efforts are ongoing to bring them down to safety, according to a statement from the Governor’s Office in Alaska.
Khan found himself trapped during a mission to hoist the Indian flag on the peak in recognition of Operation Sindoor, a military evacuation effort. He had been at a base camp located at an altitude of 17,000 feet, where adverse weather conditions, including a severe storm, made rescue operations particularly challenging. The base camp had no access to food or water, further complicating the situation.
Khan is a well-known climber who has previously scaled Mount Everest and other notable peaks. He currently works as a section officer in the Finance Department. In light of his situation, MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs requesting immediate intervention. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging action.
Typically, storms of such intensity are rare on Denali, but Khan was able to communicate his plight via a satellite phone call to a news outlet, Twentyfour, which helped bring attention to his rescue.
