Heavy snowfall in Sikkim: Army rescues 400 stranded tourists
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Guwahati: The Indian Army on Sunday rescued around 400 tourists who were stranded in Sikkim due to heavy snowfall. They were provided emergency assistance including medical care and food.
Defence spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat told NDTV that 142 women and 50 children were among the group. "The relief and rescue operations continued through late on Saturday night. The tourists were moved to safe areas and provided shelter, warm clothing, medical aid, and hot meals. The troops arranged accommodation for the stay of all the tourists."
They were travelling in around 100 vehicles which got stranded in the late hours of Saturday afternoon while returning from Natu La and Tsomgo Lake. The rescue mission Operation Himrahat was launched quickly by Trishakti Corps, police, and civil administration.
On Sunday morning, the road opening was taken up with the Army's General Reserve Engineering Force dozers. The road was cleared by 9 am and vehicles were able to move to Gangtok.