187 tourists compelled to take army shelter due to heavy snowfall in Tsomgo -Nathu La

Sikkim Police comes to the rescue of stranded tourists


GANGTOK, December 24: A total of 187 tourists have been given shelter in the army transit camp and civil area in 17th Mile for the night by the police and army personnel following heavy snowfall in the high altitude areas of Tsomgo-Nathu La area today.

Heavy snowfall had occurred in the above high altitude in the afternoon hours while the tourists were returning back to Gangtok after visiting the tourism spots of Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu La area. Hundreds of tourists had gone to these spots today.

While returning back, around 28 vehicles carrying 187 tourists got stranded late in the afternoon due to heavy snowfall which occurred in areas above 13th Mile. Other tourists had already slipped before this incident.

Sherathang OC ASI Buddha Hang Subba who was coordinating the relief operation along with other police personnel told Sikkim Express that tourist vehicles could not negotiate the snowy steep inclination along the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg near Mandakini Falls at 15th Mile. Light was also fading fast due to the winter and the tourists were anxious about their safety following which they were giving shelter for the night in the army transit camp and civil area at 17th Mile, he said.

The police personnel located in the high altitudes including Sherathang and other outposts in the area came to the rescue of the stranded tourists and teamed up with the army to provide accommodation for the night for the stranded tourists.
All the tourists are safe, said ASI Subba.

If the weather clears up tomorrow then the tourists will be coming down to Gangtok. However, if the vehicles are unable to travel due to bad weather conditions, buses provided by Travel Agents Association of Sikkim will be used to bring them back down to Gangtok safely.

source: Sikkim express