SIKKIM: Heavy snowfall in high altitude areas

GANGTOK, : As many as 187 tourists from various parts of the country, who took shelter in the Army transit camp and civil areas at 17th Mile following heavy snowfall, returned safely here with the help of Sikkim police and Army personnel based in the high altitude areas of Tsogmo-Nathu La areas.

The tourists could not make to the State capital after visiting Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu La border as heavy snowfall made the travelling difficult at 15th Mile along the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg connecting the capital with the high altitude tourism hotspots.

The Army and Sikkim police had come to the rescue of the stranded tourists and provided them shelter for the night at 15th Mile Army transit camp situated at a height of 13,000 feet. Yesterday, the Sikkim Police and Army provided more support to ensure that these tourists return to Gangtok safely by 1100 hrs. Sherathang police station OC Choley Bhutia told media that the police, Army and local people joined together to provide shelter and food to the stranded tourists at the Army transit camp of 15th Mile. The tourists have praised Sikkim Police, Army and locals for providing relief and rescuing them. “Police and Army saved us. We could sleep without any worries thanks to their support,”' Subroto Banerjee, who along with his family were caught by the heavy snowfall, said. “Also our desire to see and play with snow has been fully satisfied,” he stated. Sunita Gosh, who had come to visit Tsogmo Lake and Baba Mandir with her aged father and mother said, “Though I was feeling happy to experience the snowfall, I was deeply worried about my aged father and mother as the road got blocked due to heavy snowfall late in the afternoon but the police and Army jawans answered my prayers.” With their worries taken care by police and Army, the tourists said that they were fortunate to spend a night in the snow-covered hill. It was an experience of a lifetime, they said.

However, hundreds of tourists making their way up to Tsogmo Lake and Nathu La were not so fortunate as heavy snowfall which had occurred from 1500 hours yesterday made travelling on slippery road dangerous.

The authorities did not allow any vehicle to proceed beyond 15th Mile police check post at Kyongsala village in view of the security of the tourists and chances of vehicles getting stranded along the road.

The tourists had to return from 15th Mile consoling themselves with some snow fights and sliding along the snow filled slopes. “We have stopped vehicles going beyond 15th Mile check post as there is continuous heavy snowfall since yesterday afternoon and a situation like yesterday where tourists got stranded may happen again,” said Sherathang police OC Choley Bhutia.

He informed that heavy snowfall occurred today at Nathu La, Sherathang and Kupup areas. The police authorities informed that tourist permits to visit Tsogmo Lake and Nathu La areas will not issued till the weather conditions are favourable and the snow clogged roads are not cleared. (UNI)