About 1,700 stranded tourists were rescued by Indian army who were stranded in Nathu La after heavy snowfall blocked the Jawaharlal Nehru road, in East Sikkim, official sources said on Saturday.
As many as 1,700 tourists travelling in nearly 300 taxis from Gangtok got stranded midway at various points of the Jawahar Lal Nehru Road between 13th Mile and Nathu La on Friday evening while returning as the road was blocked by heavy snowfall.
In spite of the poor visibility and rough weather, the Army instantly swung into action carrying out the rescue operation. The stranded travellers which includes women, children and elderly persons were provided food, shelter, warm clothing and medicines.
The Army earthmovers and bulldozers are on work to clear the snow and restore road connectivity at the earliest adding that the evacuation process will continue till all the stranded tourists are safely return to the state capital Gangtok.
The Indian Meterological Department forecasts, Gangtok is likely to receive cloudy sky and rain over the next week.
