Six tourists died and 11 others were injured in a major avalanche in Sikkim’s Nathu La area, police officials said here. The injured are being taken to a hospital in the state capital Gangtok.
“Rescue and clearance operations are still going on,” a senior police official said here.
Nathu La, one of the most important Himalayan passes in the country, is located on the border with China and is a major tourist destination for its scenic beauty. It is over 55 kilometers from Gangtok.
An avalanche that occurred early morning near the 14th milestone on the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg connecting Gangtok and Nathula trapped 25-30 tourists, according to defense sources.
“Border Roads Organization (BRO) has launched rapid rescue operations and so far 22 people including 6 from deep valley have been rescued,” they said.
About 350 people and 80 vehicles stuck on the road due to snow blocking the road from Nathu La were also brought back, officials said.
Situated on the international border at 14,450 feet above sea level, Nathu La is one of the three open commercial border crossings between India and China.
