Gangtok: As many as seven tourists were killed in a major avalanche in Sikkim’s Nathu La area Tuesday, police officials said here.
The Border Road Organisation (BRO) rescued a total of 350 tourists, defence sources said.
Quoting BRO Chief Engineer Brigadier Ahalawat, Defence Spokesman Lt. Col Mahendra Rawat said that BRO’s project Swastik immediately launched a swift rescue operation after the tourists got trapped in a sudden avalanche at Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg on the National Highway 310.
He said that six tourists were rescued from a deep valley and shifted to nearby hospitals. A woman remained buried for 1.5 hours under the snow before being rescued and sent to STNM Hospital.
Rescue operations are in progress and further details are awaited.
It can be mentioned here that Nathu La, situated on the international border 14,450 feet above sea level, is one of the three open trading border posts between India and China.
Agencies