District Collector (DC) Gangtok Tushar Gajanan Nikhare IAS and SP Gangtok Tenzing Loden Lepcha IPS apprised media on status update of Tsomgo Snowslide at DCE in evening. On Tuesday evening press briefing DC informed regarding injured 20 tourists and death of 7 tourists, he told that there hasn’t been rise in figure today till 4 PM.
DC exclusively mentions that said incident occurred on fateful Tuesday is not Avalanche rather is a ‘Snowslide’, since Avalanche is different and snowslide is different categorically depending upon their volumes.
DC told media that NDRF team from Pakyong, Mountain Rescue Team, NDRF Team from Siliguri were also impressed along with exisiting Indian Army, Trishakti Corps, BRO Swastik ‘Karmayogis’ ,Sikkim Police, Stakeholders and Volunteers on day two for searching of missing tourists inside snow.
DC told that operation has been contained meanwhile. Since 8 AM morning rigorously search was performed but no sign of any missing tourists could be traced, more advanced methodology will be used in day to come. Regarding ex-gratia DC told that administration has started working on it , sooner it shall be announced. Also, the medical treatment expenses shall be endorsed by the State Government under the direction of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) that which CM has already informed on Tuesday evening during his visit to STNM Hospital to meet injured tourists.
SP Gangtok also apprised regarding the status of operation which involves tracing the missing tourists whomsoever were out-of-reach, he told things went positively and they all are safe. It may here be recalled that Sikkim Police provided helpline numbers on Tuesday itself.
In the other hand STNM Hospital’s Additional Medical Superintendent (II) Dr Chintamani Sharma said , Postmortem of 7 bodies has been carried at STNM Hospital Gangtok , 5 of the bodies which comprise of 3 from Nepal (2 females aged 29 from Rupandi and a 22-year old from Chitwan), 2 from West Bengal has been sent, 2 bodies from UP and Kolkata shall be sent tomorrow.
This includes male victim, a 28-year-old from Siliguri, that which also handed over to the family and taken in a separate vehicle today.
Autopsies of two other victims from Uttar Pradesh and one other victim from Kolkata are also over. They will be taken tomorrow morning, as the flights taking the bodies to UP and Kolkata will fly only tomorrow. Their departure was delayed as one of the victim’s relatives couldn’t reach them to identify the deceased.
Forensic report of all seven victims suggests asphyxia as the reason for death, confirms Hospital.
The logistics for flying the remaining deceased to their natives in UP and Kolkata is being overseen by the state government, added a tourism stakeholder.
According to AMS II, “barring a few with major injuries,” “most of the injured victims admitted to the STNM Hospital have been discharged on Wednesday.” They have a few minor injuries, some of which are in their thigh bone and pubic region. Patients who wish to seek medical supervision outside of the STNM Hospital or Sikkim have also been granted permission to take their patients closer to home or outside of the state.
Gangtok, April 05 (IPR): Report shared from the office of the District Collector – Gangtok for information regarding search and rescue operation after snow-slide hits Nathula JNM Road on 04.04.2023
BRO Recommences Avalanche Rescue Operation on JNM Road in East Sikkim
BRO Project Swastik recommenced the rescue operation again today at 0530 h with NDRF Team to ensure that in case of any survivors they can be rescued from snow. The rescue operation continued till 1500 h but there was no further fatalities found. According the rescue operation has now been stopped and road opened for traffic.
The rescue operation was monitored at site by Chief Engineer Project Swastik of BRO Alongwith his team of officers and men.
Minister Tourism & Civil Aviation Dept Visits Snowslide Hit Spot in JN Rd Near Tsogmo
According to the Press Release issued by Tourism and Civil Aviation Dept, In a tragic incident seven tourists lost their lives and thirteen others were injured as a massive avalanche occurred at JNM Road near MS 15 en-route the popular tourist destination of Tsogmo Lake at around 11.10 am on 4th April 2023.
The injured were rushed to the nearby Army hospital and STNM Hospital in Gangtok. Soon after the incident, Rescue, Search and Evacuation was carried out by the Indian Army, BRO Project Swastik, local tourism stakeholders, Sikkim Police, SDRF, GREF and local public.
A team from Tourism & Civil Aviation Department headed by Joint Director (Adventure) Shri. Kazi Sherpa and Rescue Team from IHCAE, Chemchey also reached the spot to aid in rescue and evacuation on the day of the incident. The detail list of all the victims were identified in coordination with State Police officials and 3rd Mile Checkpost.
Further, Hon’ble Minister, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Shri. Bedu Singh Pant accompanied by PCE -cum Secretary, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department Shri. Prakash Chettri and other senior officers of the Department visited the site of the avalanche to take stock of 2nd day search and rescue operations. Later, the Hon’ble Minister and PCE -cum Secretary, Tourism also visited STNM Hospital to meet the injured tourists and their family members.
The Minister extended his deepest condolences to the tourists who lost their lives and extended all possible support of the Department for treatment of injured tourists. Out of the seven tourists who lost their lives, the bodies of four deceased have been already sent to their respective places on 05/04/2023 whereas the bodies of three others will be sent on 06/04/2023.
Sikkim Avalanche Helpline Control room has been set up at Sadar Thana, Gangtok viz 03592 202033, 8695622101.
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