Mountaineer safe, contacts family

Shaikh Hassan Khan, the mountaineer from Pandalam
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Sheikh Hassan Khan, a mountaineer from Kerala climber stranded on Mount Denali in North America following a major storm, is now safe and has begun his descent.

According to officials, Alaska Governor’s Chief of Staff informed the Indian Ministry of External Affairs about his rescue. Rangers from the Denali National Park are in constant contact with Mr. Khan and his companion, providing necessary assistance as they return.

In a brief call, Mr. Khan informed his family that he had descended from 17,000 feet to 13,000 feet and reached a new campsite, his mother, Shahida, said..

Mr. Khan, a native of Pandalam, had embarked on the expedition as part of a mission to plant the Indian flag in honour of the Indian Army’s Operation Sindoor. Stranded at 17,000 feet with dwindling food and water supplies, he had send an SOS via satellite phone, prompting intervention by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The 38-year-old is an assistant section officer in the Finance department at the Secretariat.

The rescue operation was expedited following coordinated efforts by Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Indian Embassy in Washington. Mr. Khan, who set out from India on June 4 with his assistant from Chennai, had last contacted his family on June 10 before beginning his ascent.