Education For All

The Nanda Devi Nuclear Device: Facts, Myths, and Environmental Concerns In recent years, social media posts and screenshots—often attributed to The New York Times—have claimed that a secret nuclear generator is hidden inside Himalayan glaciers supplying water to the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, posing a massive radioactive threat. While this story is based on a real Cold War incident, many circulating claims are exaggerated or scientifically incorrect. Understanding the actual facts is essential. The Real Incident: Nanda Devi Mission (1965–1968) During the Cold War, the United States and India cooperated on a covert intelligence mission to monitor Chinese nuclear and missile tests. The target site was Nanda Devi, one of India’s highest and most remote Himalayan peaks. The device involved was not a nuclear generator or reactor, but a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG), commonly used in space missions and remote monitoring equipment. Key facts: Device name: SNAP-19C (sometimes conf...