Tourists stranded due to landslide in Gangtok

Hundreds of tourists were stranded near Gangtok, following a landslide.

"We faced many problems there was nothing to protect us (from cold). The person, who slept in the vehicle in night, might fall sick. Military persons gave food to everybody to eat. Locals helped us," a tourist, Sanjay Suri, said.

Nearly 100 vehicles were struck as slush and the debris blocked the road nearly 15 kilometres off Gangtok after heavy rain.

Gangtok is located in the Himalayans at an altitude of nearly 5,600 feet.

Military personnel and locals aided the visitors, who slept either in cars or a nearby temple.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started the clearing operations to make the road commutable for the travelers to leave for their destination.