Avalanche in Sikkim, India kills seven, injures twelve

April 6, 2023

On Tuesday morning, an avalanche near the pass in Sikkim, India killed at least seven tourists and, according to, injured at least twelve; Reuters reported eight people in critical condition Tuesday.

A cause for the avalanche has not yet been announced.

By yesterday, teams including members of the Sikkim Police and the had rescued 20 survivors, according to Reuters, or up to 22 survivors, according to News18.

After ceasing rescue efforts on Tuesday evening, the teams resumed work yesterday morning. A police administrator explained to Reuters: "Rescue operations have resumed this morning because we want to make sure that we haven't left anyone behind. We will scour the area properly before we call them off".

The avalanche struck about from the Sikkimese capital,. With its state nicknamed the "Land of Mystic Splendour", Nathu La draws thousands of tourists annually; it is also used by Hindus making the pilgrimage, an especially holy pilgrimage in Hinduism according to Reuters.

A 2018 study circulated in the determined climate change has amplified the odds of avalanches in the Western Himalayas and worsened their effects.