What Is Nanda Devi Plutonium Mission? Nuclear leakage in Ganga

The Nanda Devi Plutonium Mission was a highly secret joint operation between India and the United States in 1965, carried out during the tense years of the Cold War. The mission’s objective was to install a nuclear-powered surveillance device high in the Himalayas to monitor China’s growing nuclear capabilities. However, the mission ended in failure when the device, powered by radioactive plutonium, was lost on Nanda Devi, one of India’s highest peaks. The incident remains one of the most mysterious and controversial intelligence operations in India’s history.

Background: The Cold War and the China Factor

In the early 1960s, China had begun developing nuclear weapons, culminating in its first successful nuclear test at Lop Nur in October 1964. This event deeply alarmed both India and the United States. India had already fought a war with China in 1962 and was concerned about its northern neighbor’s increasing military strength. The United States, meanwhile, wanted intelligence on Chinese nuclear activities but lacked advanced satellite technology capable of continuous monitoring at the time.

To overcome this limitation, the CIA and India’s Intelligence Bureau decided to establish a remote nuclear-powered listening post in the Himalayas. The chosen location was Nanda Devi, a 7,816-meter peak in Uttarakhand, which offered a clear line of sight toward Chinese territory. From there, the device could pick up telemetry signals related to China’s missile and nuclear tests.

The Mission and its Objectives

The operation, code-named the Nanda Devi Mission, aimed to install a surveillance device powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). The RTG was fueled by plutonium-238, a highly radioactive isotope capable of generating heat and electricity for decades. The equipment would power sensors and transmitters designed to collect and send back data on Chinese nuclear and missile activities.

A team of Indian and American climbers was assembled for the mission. It was led by Captain Manmohan Singh Kohli, a renowned Indian mountaineer and Navy officer who had led India’s successful Everest expedition earlier that year. The team also included CIA-trained American climbers and Indian Army personnel familiar with high-altitude operations. Their mission was to carry the heavy equipment up Nanda Devi and set it up near the summit.

The Expedition and the Loss of the Device

The mission began in October 1965. The team carried several hundred kilograms of equipment, including the RTG containing several kilograms of plutonium-238, up the treacherous slopes of Nanda Devi. However, as they climbed higher, the weather deteriorated rapidly. Fierce blizzards, avalanches, and freezing winds made progress nearly impossible.

At one of the higher camps, known as Camp IV, Captain Kohli made the difficult decision to abandon the mission to save the team’s lives. The climbers secured the nuclear-powered device inside a rock crevice, planning to retrieve it the following year once conditions improved.

When the team returned in 1966 to recover the device, it was gone. The entire system, including the plutonium-powered generator, had vanished—likely swept away by an avalanche or buried deep within the glacier. The disappearance meant that several kilograms of radioactive material were lost somewhere on Nanda Devi.

Aftermath and Environmental Concerns

Following the loss of the device, the CIA and the Indian government decided to keep the mission a secret. For over a decade, almost no one outside a small circle of officials knew that a nuclear-powered device had been lost in the Himalayas. The truth came to light in 1978 when the American magazine Outside published an exposé detailing the operation. The revelation caused widespread concern, especially among environmentalists and local communities.

Experts warned that if the plutonium container had ruptured, it could lead to radioactive contamination of the glaciers feeding the Rishi Ganga and Ganga rivers, which are vital water sources for millions of people. Although no direct evidence of contamination has ever been found, the potential risk remains a matter of concern.

In response, the Indian government banned mountaineering expeditions in the Nanda Devi Sanctuary for several years, citing environmental and security reasons. The ban was also intended to prevent further disturbance in the area where the device was believed to have been lost.

Later Developments and Legacy

After the failed Nanda Devi mission, the CIA and India carried out a similar operation on a nearby peak, Nanda Kot. This time, the device was successfully installed and later retrieved after its operational period ended. However, the Nanda Devi incident continued to cast a long shadow over India’s intelligence history.

Over the years, several expeditions and scientific surveys have tried to locate the missing plutonium generator, but none have succeeded. The exact location of the device remains unknown, and it is believed to be buried deep within the glacier. Scientists suggest that as the glacier melts over time, there is a small but persistent risk that radioactive material could eventually be exposed or carried downstream.

The incident also symbolized the deep, though largely secret, cooperation between India and the United States during the Cold War, particularly in intelligence and surveillance. It was an example of how global geopolitics, technology, and espionage intersected in one of the world’s most remote and inhospitable regions.