On Tuesday, a tragic avalanche occurred in the Nathula area of Sikkim, resulting in the death of seven tourists and leaving 12 others injured.
As of now, 20 people have been rescued with injuries due to avalanche that struck the arterial Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, which connects Gangtok with Nathula at China border around 11:30 am.
The Indian Army reported that 14 people were rescued by 3 PM and taken to a nearby medical facility, but unfortunately, seven individuals did not survive.
The injured individuals were quickly sent to a hospital in the state capital, Gangtok. According to a senior police official, rescue and clearance operations are still ongoing.
The Border Road Organization (BRO) has initiated Swift Rescue operations as part of Project SWASTIK. So far, 22 tourists have been rescued, including six from a deep valley, and have been taken to nearby hospitals.
Officials reported that one woman was buried under snow for 1.5 hours but was successfully rescued and is in stable condition. She has been sent to the STNM Hospital in Gangtok for further treatment.
Furthermore, the BRO has cleared snow from the roads, and as a result, 350 stranded tourists and 80 vehicles have been rescued. However, there are still concerns that several individuals may still be trapped, and rescue operations are still underway.
The Border Road Organization (BRO) has cleared the roads for traffic, and the search and rescue mission is currently in full swing, with the Army, State Disaster Management Team, and Police working together.
PM Narendra Modi Responses
The injured are currently receiving treatment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for those who lost their loved ones and wished a speedy recovery for those injured.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister’s Office stated that rescue operations are ongoing, and all necessary aid is being provided to those affected.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the avalanche that struck Sikkim on Tuesday.
He assured the public that his ministry is closely monitoring the situation and that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams will soon reach the affected area to provide further assistance. In a tweet, Shah also expressed his prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured.