Congress MP Shashi Tharoor seeks MEA help for Indian mountaineer stranded on Mount Denali

New Delhi [India], June 19 (ANI): Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has urged the Ministry of External Affairs to urgently intervene and assist Shaikh Hassan Khan, a young mountaineer from his constituency, Thiruvananthapuram, who is reportedly stranded at the 17,000 ft base camp on Mount Denali in Alaska.
Tharoor flagged the issue in a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, expressing deep concern over the "precarious and life-threatening situation" the mountaineer finds himself in, and requested Indian authorities to coordinate with their US counterparts for a timely rescue.
According to the letter, Khan's ascent of Denali is part of a broader campaign to promote global peace and honour Indian armed forces under the banner of "Operation Sindoor."

Sadly the heroic young explorer is now stranded on Mount Denali. My urgent request for help from the Foreign Minister and our diplomats in the US: https://t.co/B7JKrY2gZO pic.twitter.com/OTXwbKBWaA

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 18, 2025

Tharoor described Khan as a "committed and courageous young Indian" whose efforts reflected "exceptional determination, discipline, and a commitment to causes beyond personal achievement."
Highlighting the importance of swift action, Tharoor said he is confident that "with timely intervention and the cooperation of the appropriate American agencies, these young men can be brought to safety."
Taking to X, Tharoor posted, "Sadly the heroic young explorer is now stranded on Mount Denali. My urgent request for help from the Foreign Minister and our diplomats in the US."
In another post, he lauded Khan's accomplishments: "This young man from my constituency, Shaikh Hassan Khan, became the first Keralite (and perhaps the first Indian) to climb the highest peaks of 7 continents on Earth (what he calls his '7 Summits Expedition'). He achieved this feat after climbing Mount Kosciusko, the highest peak in Australia, on 10th November 2024 at 3PM. To celebrate this moment, he hoisted the Indian National Flag there, as he had on every other continent, including Antartica (in pic)."

This young man from my constituency, Shaikh Hassan Khan, became the first Keralite (and perhaps the first Indian) to climb the highest peaks of 7 continents on Earth (what he calls his “7 Summits Expedition”). He achieved this feat after climbing Mount Kosciusko, the highest… pic.twitter.com/iTKvxrsClk

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 18, 2024

"He had already reached the summits of Mount Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Denali, Mount Elbrus, Mount Vinson, and Mount Aconcagua. He also summited Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano on Earth."
"He says he undertook this '7 Summits Expedition' to spread awareness about climate change and to spread the message of world peace. I helped recommend him for a couple of visas; the rest is entirely his own extraordinary initiative. Well done, Shaikh Hassan! Your MP is proud of you. So should the rest of the country be!"
His remarkable journey now awaits a safe return, as efforts continue to bring him home. (ANI)