GANGTOK: At seven tourists died and 11 people were injured after an avalanche hit the Nathu La border area in Sikkim on Tuesday afternoon. The injured have been admitted to the hospital. The tourists here haven’t been identified. The avalanche struck the 14th mile on Jawaharlal Road between Sikkim’s capital Gangtok and Nathu La. Rescue operations have started in the disaster-hit area.

It is reported that there were around 150 tourists here at the time of the disaster. 22 people have been rescued.

The rescue operation is in progress under the leadership of the Sikkim Police and tourism department. The pass is only to go up to the 13th mile, but many tourists cross this limit, police said.

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