Gangtok: 600 tourists stranded due to landslide

Around 600 tourists returning to Gangtok from Chhangu Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu-la were stranded at 5th Mile, 15km from Gangtok, following a landslide on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg this evening, official sources said.

Around 600 tourists returning to Gangtok from Chhangu Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu-la were stranded at 5th Mile, 15km from Gangtok, following a landslide on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg this evening, official sources said.

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"Around 5pm, when the tourist vehicles were returning from Chhangu Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu-la, slush and the debris blocked the road at 5th Mile and 112 vehicles were stuck," said a check post police officer at 2nd Mile, Sabitri Pradhan, over the phone.

Pradhan said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had started clearing the debris and the tourists would be brought to Gangtok as soon as possible.

The 56km road connects Gangtok with Nathu-la.

"The tour operators with whom the tourists had booked vehicles have been informed. Some of them have reached the spot and are trying to bring the tourists back to Gangtok," said Pradhan.

BRO director AK Das said workers had been deployed to clear the road.