Sikkim: Massive avalanche hits Nathu La, seven dead and several feared trapped

At least seven tourists – four men, two women, and a child – were killed Tuesday after a devastating avalanche struck Sikkim’s Nathu La border area.

A minimum of 11 other tourists have sustained injuries in the natural disaster, with as many as 50 people still feared trapped under the snow, police officials told PTI.

30 tourists have been rescued so far and admitted to Gangtok’s STNM Hospital and Central Referral Hospital for treatment. Search and rescue operation is currently underway, with tourism department officials, commercial vehicle drivers, and local travel agents also helping out.

Visuals shared from the site showed a number of heavy vehicles being deployed to remove snow and debris in order to accelerate the pace of rescue missions.

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Hundreds of tourists and roughly 80 vehicles, which were left stranded on the road by the avalanche, have also been rescued, PTI reported.

The Nathu La Pass, situated on the border with China, is a prominent tourist destination owing to its scenic beauty.

According to the Border Roads Organisation, the avalanche hit the 14th mile marker – a point on the Jawaharlal Nehru Road connecting Gangtok to Nathu La – around 12:15 pm local time.

The state has been receiving regular snowfall over the last few weeks, compelling authorities to allow tourists to explore till the 13th mile marker only. But during the Tuesday afternoon incident, tourists had gone passed the permitted point, government officials informed.