Sikkim Avalanche: Rescue Operations Ended with No Fatalities Found

Guwahati: Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Team launched the rescue operation on Wednesday at around 5.30 am in order to ensure that any survivors may be rescued from the snow in Sikkim.

“The rescue operation continued till 3 pm but there were no further fatalities found. Accordingly, the rescue operation has now been stopped and the road opened for traffic,” Lt Col Mahendra Rawat, PRO DEFENCE said in a press statement.

Chief Engineer Project Swastik of BRO and his team of policemen and personnel kept an eye on the rescue effort on the site.

Lt col Mahendra Rawat, PRO DEFENCE while speaking to media said, “Around 27 tourists were rescued by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) after recommencing of the rescue operation. With god’s grace, no more fatalities were found.”

Notably, a massive avalanche hit the Gangtok-Natu La JNM Road close to MS 15 on Tuesday at around 11.10 a.m.

It’s suspected that 5–6 vehicles and 20–30 visitors travelling to Natu La were buried in the snow.

The Trishakti Corps, the Indian Army, and the BRO Project SWASTIK team sprang into action right away and began a full-scale rescue operation.

23 tourists rescued till 4 pm including 6 from deep valley and shifted to nearby medical facilities of Indian Army.

Unfortunately, seven people have passed away.

The Army, State Disaster Management Unit, and Police are conducting a search and rescue operation for the remaining people.

In addition, 80 vehicles and 350 stranded tourists were rescued after the snow was cleared from the road.

Later, another slide hit at the same place at 5.35 pm. Following which, the rescue and search operations were halted.

JNM Road Axis is shut off till the snow is cleared. The safety of every member of the humanitarian mission’s staff was also reported.