Kerala Mountaineer Stranded on Denali Sends Urgent SOS for Rescue

Urgent SOS from a Stranded Mountaineer

Thiruvananthapuram, June 18: Sheikh Hassan Khan, a 38-year-old employee of the Kerala government, has issued an urgent SOS after becoming trapped in a severe storm at an altitude of 17,000 feet on Mount Denali, the tallest mountain in North America.

The Kerala BJP president, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, shared Khan's distress signal on his X account on Wednesday.

"Sheikh Hassan Khan is caught in a severe storm on Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America. He is urgently seeking help and managed to send an SOS via satellite phone..." Khan's message indicates, “I have limited food and water. I am here to hold a banner in honor of our armed forces for Operation Sindoor. Only divine intervention can save us from this predicament. Please pray for us. This message is sent from a satellite phone,” Khan's SOS reads.

In response, Chandrasekhar has contacted the Prime Minister’s office and the Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, for assistance.

"I have alerted @DrSJaishankar and his team. I am also tagging the Indian Embassy in Washington DC @IndianEmbassyUS to request their help. Stay safe," Chandrasekhar posted while sharing Khan's SOS.

Interestingly, in June 2023, Khan, who has previously summited Mount Everest and Kilimanjaro, had successfully climbed Mount Denali. He described Denali as a stunning mountain but regarded Everest as the more formidable challenge.

"Climbing Denali is more challenging than Everest. Successfully summiting Denali earns you the title of a true mountaineer," Khan had stated during a phone interview from Denver in 2023.

The only major peak Khan has yet to conquer is the tallest mountain in Australia.

Khan, who is currently on a five-year leave from his position at the Kerala state secretariat, is dedicated to achieving his goal of climbing the highest peaks on all continents.

In response to Khan’s SOS, his close friend and former colleague, George Mathew, expressed concern, stating that Khan had mentioned plans to return to Denali with a group of enthusiastic mountaineers.

"We are all praying for his swift rescue. His passion for mountain climbing is remarkable," Mathew shared.