Landslides

Gangtok, June 27: More than 200 tourists on a return trip from Chhangu Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu-la were stranded at 15th Mile on JN Marg yesterday after multiple landslides blocked the road. The tourists reached Gangtok this morning after the BRO cleared the debris. “Around 50 vehicles carrying tourists had gone up yesterday. The first landslide occurred at 13th Mile and the debris was cleared in an hour but vehicles got struck again following another slide at 15th Mile,” said a police officer at the 2nd Mile check post. BRO director A.K. Das said the first slide occurred around 4.30pm and the second one at 6.45pm. The tourists stayed at the Kyongnosla army camp, local hotels and houses. “Although the road was opened around 9pm, most tourists did not want to take the risk of travelling as it was raining,” said a police officer. No permits were issued today for Chhangu Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu-la.