The potential reopening has elicited mixed reactions from the mountaineering community. Veteran mountaineer Shashi Bahuguna, who has climbed 25 peaks, including the prominent Bhagirathi (6,856 meters) and Bandarpoonch (6,316 meters), hailed the move as “a moment of excitement.” “This is a uniquely technical and distinctively challenging peak, and climbers worldwide are eager to conquer it,” seasoned mountaineer Shashi declared unequivocally. Emphasising its global allure, Shashi added, “It is not merely a prized ascent for Indian mountaineers but stands among the most sought-after ranges for the global climbing fraternity.” However, fellow mountaineer Tarun Mahara expressed a more critical view, urging caution. “The government should not be in such a hurry; there might still be a possibility of radiation there,” he added. “Imagine a nuclear-powered device, capable of unleashing unprecedented destruction, lying abandoned in the pristine wilderness of the Himalayas,” mountaineer Tarun Mahara revealed, shedding light on a long-forgotten chapter in history. According to mountaineer Mahara, “Sixty years ago, the CIA and India’s Intelligence Bureau attempted to install a surveillance device on Nanda Devi to spy on China. It was abandoned in a snowstorm, however, leaving behind 5kg of plutonium-238, which remains lost in the glacier.” The consequences of this failed mission are still unknown, with official sources warning that the radioactive material “could pose an environmental risk to the rivers fed by the mountain’s ice.” As Mahara noted, “The device’s fate remains a mystery, and experts have long cautioned about the potential dangers of this nuclear relic.”
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