Army rescues over 1,000 stranded tourists in Sikkim
The Hindu
Severe snowfall in Nathu La, Tsomgo (Chhangu) Lake and adjoining areas on March 16 brought down the temperature to sub-zero levels and impacted the movement of travellers.
The Indian Army has rescued more than 1,000 tourists, including women and children, who were stranded at Chhangu in the upper reaches of East Sikkim, following heavy snowfall, officals said.
Severe snowfall in Nathu La, Tsomgo (Chhangu) Lake and adjoining areas on March 16 afternoon brought down the temperature to sub-zero levels and impacted the movement of travellers, they said.
Due to the snow accumulation, driving became dangerous, resulting in over 1,000 tourists along with 200 vehicles getting stranded over a stretch of 15 km, they added.
The Army personnel deployed in the area launched a rescue effort, and the tourists were shifted to safety following an over eight-hour operation, an official release said.
"All the tourists were provided with accommodation, hot meals, warm clothing and critical medical support," it said.
In 2021, five women from Mayithara, four of them MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers, found a common ground in their desire to create a sustainable livelihood by growing vegetables. Rajamma M., Mary Varkey, Valsala L., Elisho S., and Praseeda Sumesh, aged between 70 and 39, pooled their savings, rented a piece of land and began their collective vegetable farming journey under the Deepam Krishi group.