Indian mountaineer Shaikh Hassan Khan stranded on Mt Denali amid snowstorm, urgent rescue sought

Kerala-based mountaineer and government employee Shaikh Hassan Khan has been stranded on Mount Denali in Alaska, North America’s tallest peak, due to a severe snowstorm that has halted all descent and rescue operations.

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Khan, who previously conquered Mount Everest, embarked on this expedition to honour the Indian Army's Operation Sindoor by hoisting the national flag atop Denali. However, unpredictable weather has severely disrupted his plans, leaving him trapped at a high altitude with dwindling resources. His last known communication was on June 10, when he alerted his family about a critical shortage of food and water. Since then, he has remained unreachable, raising serious concerns about his safety.

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A post shared by Shaikh Hassan Khan (@shaikh_hassan_khan)

Before losing contact, Khan shared an Instagram video from Talkateena, Alaska, where he visited a cemetery next to a Climber’s Memorial, a poignant tribute to mountaineers who lost their lives attempting to scale Denali, also known as Mount McKinley.

Responding to the growing concern, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has formally requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention. In his letter, the CM urged immediate diplomatic engagement through the Indian Embassy in the United States to facilitate Khan's rescue with the help of relevant American authorities.

Khan’s family, friends, and fellow climbers are anxiously awaiting any updates, as extreme conditions continue to pose a grave risk. Efforts are underway to coordinate a possible evacuation, but the situation remains tense due to the treacherous weather and high-altitude challenges.