USSR lost nuclear generator in Himalayas

In 1965, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) organized the retrieval of a nuclear generator containing plutonium capsules from the Nanda Devi mountains. The generator was intended for surveillance systems monitoring China, but it was dropped from the summit during severe weather.

Now, sixty years later, the device could pose a threat to India's population. The plutonium capsules are toxic and capable of causing cancer. If the generator reaches a stream, radioactive materials could enter the Ganges River, which is vital for millions of people.

Information about this incident first appeared in The New York Times. The risk of contamination and long-term consequences are significant, but there has been no official confirmation of the threat from Indian authorities yet.

Context

According to documents, the United States occasionally deployed small nuclear generators in remote areas to support special operations and intelligence missions. In 1965, this particular unit was lost in the mountains, becoming the subject of subsequent investigations.