[ad_1]
New Delhi (CNN) Seven tourists were killed and 13 injured in a massive avalanche in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim, local police said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred around 11:10 a.m. local time, the Army said in a statement to CNN.
The military said at least 20 people were rescued alive after several vehicles en route to the Nathura Pass were hit by snow.
Some of the survivors are in critical condition and rescue efforts are continuing, senior police official Tenzin Roden Lepcha told CNN.
The avalanche occurred near the Nathura Pass and hit the road connecting Nathura with the provincial capital Gangtok.
Lepcha told CNN that avalanches are unusual at this time of year and are due to the region’s unseasonable rain and snow.
An additional 350 tourists and 80 vehicles were rescued after clearing the roads of snow, the military said.
Kavita Agarwal, a traveler from Delhi, told Reuters police had warned tourists visiting the lake on their way to the Nathura Pass due to bad weather.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Suffering from the avalanche in Sikkim. My condolences to those who lost loved ones.”
“We hope the injured recover soon. Rescue operations are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected.”
[ad_2]
Source link