Army rescues 1,500 tourists trapped after heavy snowfall in Sikkim

(PTI) Gangtok, Ta. December 28, 2019, Saturday

The Indian army rescued about 1,500 tourists stranded at Nathu La, east Sikkim.

About 1,500 to 1,700 tourists traveling in about 300 vehicles from Gangtok were mistaken for various stretches on Jawaharlal Nehru Road between Thirteenth Mile and Nathula due to heavy snowfall in the evening.

There, the Indian Army on duty provided guidance to about 1,500 tourists, including women, children, and motorists, and gave 570 of them a shelter at the Seventh Mile.

The forgotten tourists were provided with food, warm clothes and medicines. Army landmovers and bulldozers in the area are trying to re-establish connectivity by clearing the road by removing snow from the road. The cleaning operation will continue until all tourists have safely returned to Gangtok.