A rescue operation continued on the second day to take out trapped tourists after a massive avalanche struck Sikkim state’s Nathu La area on Tuesday, killing at least seven tourists and leaving 13 others injured.
Situated at 14,450 feet above sea level, Nathu La attracts a lot of tourists with its scenic beauty. It is also open trading border post between India and China.
A video of the incident making the rounds on the Internet shows several tourists running for their lives and getting buried under the snow as the avalanche hits them, while others stand frightened and watch.
The Indian Army, Border Road Organization (BRO), and police are continuing the search operation near 14th-15th Mile to find more tourists trapped in the snow, the District Collector Tushar Nikhane told an Indian news agency.
The avalanche left five-six vehicles trapped under the snow that were carrying about 30 people.
The seven deceased tourists, including a woman and child, were from Nepal, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal states.
Footage of the avalanche has taken the Internet by storm, leaving netizens shocked and drawing a lot of reactions from them.
An additional 350 stranded tourists and 80 vehicles were rescued and brought to Gangtok after the snow was cleared from the road.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress politician Rahul Gandhi, and others took to social media to offer condolences to the families of the deceased.
"Distressed by the avalanche in Sikkim. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I hope the injured recover soon. Rescue ops are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected," PM Modi said.
Home Minister Shah posted that the Center was closely monitoring the situation and that teams of the National Disaster Response Force would reach the area -- between Milestones 13 and 17 -- soon.