Fifty nine tourists stranded in Batal area of Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh were rescued by the local administration. The tourists were stuck in the area since October 17 when heavy snowfall blocked the Gramphu-Kaza highway. The tourists were first brought to Kaza from where most of them have left towards their destination. District officials along with local volunteers were involved in the rescue efforts, as tourists were stranded at various isolated spots in the area.