Tourists snowed in at 17 Mile

GANGTOK, 08 Jan: Quick response by Sikkim Police and fluid coordination on site ensured that the around 270 tourists stranded on the wrong side of 17 Mile [while returning from Tsomgo and Nathula] were not inconvenienced beyond what was unavoidable last night. The East district Administration headed by SP East, DB Giri, helped by the Border Roads Organisation and Army units stationed along the JN Marg [to Nathula], rescued all the stranded tourists and found them accommodation at facilities available in the area. The tourists were stranded at 17 Mile last evening when heavy snowfall made the road back to Gangtok unmotorable. The tourists were returning from sightseeing tours to Baba Mandir and Tsomgo, informs Sabitra Pradhan, Police Inspector posted in the 17th Checkpost.
Sikkim Police personnel from the Sherathang outpost and Army Units stationed in the border area adjusted the stranded tourists at the 17th Mile Army acclimatization centre and in private residences there.
All the tourists were escorted back to Gangtok this morning when clear weather thawed the roads, Checkpost officials inform.
Out of 270 stranded tourists, 240 are Indians and 30 were Nepalese nationals, it is informed.
No tourist traffic was allowed up to Tsomgo from Gangtok today in light of the still heavy snow in the higher reaches.
[VISHNU NEOPANEY]