Srinagar:
The Army launched a major rescue operation to save as many as 400 passengers from the Khardung La Pass in Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, world's highest motorable road, after they were stuck due to heavy snowfall resulting in landslides.
In a statement, the Army said, "The rescue operation lasted whole night and timely action by the Army personnel, ably supported by the state police led to safe evacuation of all tourists and no one suffered any injury."
According to the official spokesman of Jammu and Kashmir government, nearly 145 vehicles carrying tourists, labourers and passengers were trapped in sub-zero temperature.
The spokesman said the vehicles were stranded between South and North Pullu, 42 kilometres from Leh. This road leads to Siachen glacier and Nurbu valley.
"The road axis was finally cleared by 1300 hours on 9 June 2012. Almost 350-400 persons, 70 light vehicles and 35-40 trucks stranded at North Pullu were guided back to Leh safely under Army escort," the Army statement said.
The Army provided shelter, warm clothing and food to the stranded tourists; established vehicle based medical aid post to provide basic medical assistance and administered oxygen to over 120 tourists suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness, the statement added.
Northern Command Army Spokesperson Rajesh Kalia also said that nearly 120 people were administered oxygen as the area has low oxygen levels.