Sikkim avalanche kills seven near India’s border with China, others trapped

The Indian army said that an avalanche killed at least seven tourists in the Indian Himalayan state of Sikkim near a mountain pass that leads to the Chinese region of Tibet, while it is feared that more people are trapped.

The military said five to six vehicles carrying up to 30 tourists to the strategically located Nattu La pass between Sikkim and Tibet were feared to be stuck under the snow when the avalanche hit, Reuters reported.

“We have not yet ascertained how many people are still trapped. 17 people have been rescued, eight of whom are in very critical condition and have been taken to hospital,” senior police official Tenzing Luden Lipcha told Reuters by telephone.

The army statement said the incident occurred at 11:30 am (0600 GMT). Rescue officials earlier said they feared at least 70 people may be under snow at the site, 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the state capital Gangtok.

Rescue operations are continuing, Ludin Lipca said, adding that when the avalanche occurred, people were taking pictures near a stream. Pictures released by the Indian Defense Ministry showed rescue workers digging with shovels near a waterfall.

The pictures showed that yellow heavy machinery worked to remove the rippled snow left by the avalanche.

The military said in a statement that an additional 350 tourists and 80 vehicles were rescued after snow was cleared from the road.

Thousands of tourists flock to Sikkim every year, also known as the ‘Land of Mysterious Splendor’, located below Mount Khangchendzonga, also known as Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world.

Nathu La serves as a route for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in China, which is considered one of the holiest pilgrimages in Hinduism.

The Himalayan border of 3,500 km (2,100 mi) has been disputed since the 1950s. Both countries have raced to improve roads and railways in remote areas in recent years.

Avalanches and flash floods in the Himalayas are common during the summer and monsoon months, when snow melts and heavy rain collects.

In June 2013, record monsoon rains in the northern Himalayan state of Uttarakhand caused devastating floods that claimed nearly 6,000 lives, one of the worst natural disasters to hit the country.

M