Snowfall in Sikkim, tourist vehicles stranded

DEEPAK SHARMA, SUJAL PRADHAN, EOI, MANGAN / GANGTOK, DECEMBER 13, 2023 : Shortly after an official notification that tourists could visit the Chungthang and Lachung areas in north Sikkim, there has been heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of Lachung and Lachen in the Mangan district. 

Tourists have now been restricted from visiting Yumthang. Visits to Lachen have not been allowed since the glacial lake out burst flood of the night of October 3. In east Sikkim, Nathu La on China border and Baba Mandir also received snowfall. As a result, more than 400 vehicles were stranded on the Tsomgo axis, along with tourists on Wednesday. 

The army provided food and shelter to the tourists. It was expected that their evacuation would take place on Thursday.

Ravongla has received hailstorm. Because of the snowfall, the entire state is in the grip of a cold wave. The temperature in Gangtok was six degrees Celsius on Wednesday.