Indian mountaineer Shaikh Hasan Khan of Kerala, who was stuck during an expedition to Denali, the highest mountain in North America has been rescued safely. The officials have confirmed that Khan is safe at the base camp and stable.
Khan, an assistant section officer in the Kerala Finance Department, was trapped at Camp 5 of Denali at a height of 17,000 feet after a heavy snowstorm. As his food and water supplies were running low, he made a distress call through a satellite phone, calling for immediate assistance.
In the message, Khan wrote, “Hi, this is Shaikh. I am on an expedition to Mount Denali, the highest point in North America. We are stranded in a bad storm at 17,000 ft in Camp 5. Less food and water to keep us alive. I am here on a mission to hold a banner to congratulate our armed forces for Operation Sindoor. Only God can help us.”
Mission to Honor Armed Forces
Khan embarked on the arduous journey to honor the Indian Army’s Operation Sindoor. He started off on June 4 from Chennai, arrived in the United States on June 6, and commenced his climb on June 10 after a video conference with his parents.
He was accompanied on the climb by a fellow mountaineer from Tamil Nadu. Khan has experience with out-of-the-way climbs. He climbed Mount Everest successfully in 2022 and has summited many other mountains on different continents.
After the rescue, Khan was returned to the base camp of Denali. Authorities indicated that he is recovering well and unharmed. The accident both showcases the danger of high-altitude climbing and the heroism of climbers such as Khan who pursue missions with more meaning.
