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Lost Cold War Nuclear Device Haunts Himalayas
13 Dec
Summary
- A CIA mission lost a nuclear device on Nanda Devi in 1965.
- The device contains plutonium, posing long-term environmental fears.
- The US government has never officially acknowledged the loss.
In 1965, a clandestine CIA operation aimed at spying on China led to the loss of a portable nuclear generator on Nanda Devi, one of the Himalayas' highest peaks. The device, powered by radioactive plutonium, was abandoned during a blizzard, becoming a hidden Cold War secret.
Sixty years later, the location of this potent device remains unknown. Fears persist about its potential environmental impact on the Ganges River and local communities, especially as glaciers melt. Despite past recovery attempts, the US government has never publicly acknowledged the incident.
The mission's unraveling, revealed through recently discovered documents, underscores the risks of espionage. The lost generator's plutonium poses a threat, with concerns ranging from water contamination to its potential use in a dirty bomb, leaving a legacy of fear and unanswered questions.
