7 tourists die as avalanche strikes Sikkim's Nathu La

GANGTOK: A massive avalanche swept away a group of tourists in east Sikkim's Nathu La area near the China border on Tuesday, killing at least seven of them and injuring 13.
The avalanche hit the arterial Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, which connects state capital Gangtok to Nathu La which is at an altitude of 14,450 feet, at 11.30am, burying five to six vehicles with around 30 tourists and drivers under the snow, the Army said.

Seven bodies were fished out and 23 people, including six tourists, rescued. The injured were admitted to STNM Hospitals in Gangtok, around 55km away. Among the dead are a woman and a child, a state official said, adding three of the deceased are from Nepal, two from UP and two from Bengal.
The search operation was called off in the evening due to inclement weather. "Distressed by the avalanche. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I hope the injured recover soon. Rescue operations are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected," PM Narendra Modi said.
Union home minister Amit Shah said the Centre was closely monitoring the situation. Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang visited the state-run STNM Hospital in Gangtok at night and met the injured persons. He said 13 injured tourists were brought to the hospital, and nine of them were discharged after fast-aid.
The tourists were not permitted to travel beyond Milestone 13 due to inclement weather, but they forced the tour operators and the drivers to take them to the area — between Milestones 13 and 17 — where the avalanche struck, a police officer said. At the time of the accident, people were taking photographs near a stream, senior police official Tenzing Loden Lepcha claimed.
Rescue workers used a JCB and shovels to dig up the snow for survivors. Some 350 people in 80 vehicles, stranded on the road because of the snow, were brought back to Gangtok, officials said. The Sikkim East district has been experiencing rainfall and snowfall in the higher reaches since Friday. Forecasts and nowcasts on rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning have been issued.