| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Nanda Devi Plutonium Mission (1965) |
| Objective | Install a nuclear-powered surveillance device on Nanda Devi (7,816m) to monitor China's nuclear tests. |
| Participants | Joint operation between India (Intelligence Bureau) and USA (CIA). |
| Key Figures | Captain Manmohan Singh Kohli (Indian Navy, expedition leader), CIA-trained climbers. |
| Device Details | Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) powered by plutonium-238 (highly radioactive). |
| Mission Outcome | Device lost due to extreme weather; abandoned at Camp IV, later vanished (likely due to an avalanche). |
| Recovery Attempt | Failed retrieval in 1966; device remains missing. |
| Public Disclosure | Revealed in 1978 by Outside magazine. |
| Environmental Concerns | Potential radioactive contamination of Rishi Ganga and Ganga rivers; no direct evidence found. |
| Government Response | Ban on expeditions in Nanda Devi Sanctuary for environmental and security reasons. |
| Follow-up Mission | Successful installation on Nanda Kot (nearby peak); device later retrieved. |
| Legacy | Symbolizes India-US Cold War cooperation; unresolved risks of radioactive exposure due to glacial melting. |
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