Avalanche Sweeps Away Tourists in Northeast India; 7 Killed

Avalanche Sweeps Away Tourists in Northeast India; 7 Killed
Soldiers clear snow from an avalanche near Nathu La mountain pass in India's Sikkim state on April 4, 2023. Indian Army via AP
The Associated Press
Updated:

NEW DELHI—An avalanche swept away a group of tourists in the Himalayas in northeastern India on Tuesday, killing at least seven and injuring 11, officials said.

Army spokesperson Lt. Col Mahendra Rawat said rescuers pulled out at least 23 tourists from the snow and took them to a hospital for treatment.

Soldiers clear snow from an avalanche near Nathu La mountain pass in India's Sikkim state on April 4, 2023. (Indian Army via AP)
Soldiers clear snow from an avalanche near Nathu La mountain pass in India's Sikkim state on April 4, 2023. Indian Army via AP

India’s Border Roads Organization said the tourists were hit by the avalanche near the Nathu La mountain pass in Sikkim state. A video released by the Indian army showed rescuers digging through the snow to find an undetermined number of missing people swept away by the avalanche down a mountain slope.

Nathu La mountain pass is along the border with China and is a major tourist destination.

Last year 27 trainee mountaineers were killed in an avalanche in the northern Uttarakhand region.