At least seven tourists were killed and 11 injured when they were hit by an avalanche in the Himalayas of northeast India on Tuesday, officials said.
Indian Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Rawat said search and rescue teams rescued at least 23 tourists buried in the snow and transported to hospital, some for observation, others for treatment.
According to the Border Roads Organization of India, the group of tourists has been hit by the avalanche near Nathu La mountain pass in Sikkim state.
A video released by the Indian army shows members of the rescue team digging in the snow to try to find an undetermined number of missing people, who have been dragged down the slope by the avalanche.
The mountain pass Nathu La is located along the Chinese border and is a major tourist destination.
The ecologically sensitive region of the Himalayas, which has been hit hard by global warming, is prone to avalanches.
Last year, 27 mountaineers in training were killed in an avalanche in northern Uttarakhand.
Source: DN
