ITANAGAR: Three tourists from Tripura, stranded for over eight hours near PT Tso Lake in Tawang district due to heavy snowfall, were successfully rescued by the Army on Tuesday night.
The tourists—Rohen Sarkar, Sahil Datta, and Raju Name—had embarked on a sightseeing trip on rented motorcycles earlier that day but found themselves stuck when the snowfall intensified.
The three left for PT Tso Lake around 11 a.m. but got stuck in the heavy snowfall, which covered the high-altitude region by the afternoon. When they tried to return to Leh, their motorbikes skidded on the ice and left them stranded in the extreme cold.
Recounting their ordeal, Sarkar said, “We contacted our hotel and also sent an SOS message with our contact numbers on social media, waiting for someone to rescue us.” With no immediate help in sight, they decided to leave their motorcycles behind and walk some distance in search of shelter. Eventually, they found a deserted bunker where they took refuge from the freezing conditions.
Their distress call gained attention when a reporter noticed their social media posts around 10 p.m. The reporter quickly gathered their details and location before informing Nawang Chotta, the DIPRO (District Information and Public Relations Officer) of Tawang, about the emergency. Given the harsh weather and nighttime conditions, the DIPRO promptly alerted the Army, as other rescue methods were not feasible.
The Army swiftly mobilized and located the stranded tourists, bringing them to safety. At the Army camp, they were given first aid, warm clothing, hot water, and food. Their health was assessed to ensure they had not suffered from hypothermia or other weather-related complications. By Wednesday, the tourists were safely escorted back to their hotel.
Expressing their gratitude, the tourists thanked the Army, the DIPRO, and the journalists who played a crucial role in coordinating their rescue. Their experience served as a reminder of the unpredictable challenges posed by high-altitude travel and the importance of timely assistance during emergencies.
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