Gangtok: Army personnel of the TrishaktiCorps rescued more than 500 tourists and 175 vehicles that were stranded at Nathu La of East Sikkim - a major tourist hotspot - on Wednesday.

The incident was triggered by sudden snowfall, according to officials. Prompt Medicare, hot meals, and safe transportation were rendered timely to assist the tourists, said an army official. In December last year, the army had rescued around 800 stranded tourists from the same region in the state. In April last year, an avalanche killed at least seven people, injured 11, and trapped an unknown number of tourists in Nathu La.

Landslides and avalanches are all too common in Sikkim, a popular tourist destination known for its scenic landscapes. The army, which has outposts in the mountains, is often called on to assist stranded tourists.

In a notable incident, the state came under the wrath of nature in October last year when a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim triggered a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in the Teesta river basin, which claimed over 30 lives. The floods also destroyed the 1,200 MW Urja Hydroelectric Chungthang dam and caused widespread damage downstream.

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