Tawang, March 13: At least 680 people have been rescued by the Indian Army after they were stuck in Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh due to heavy snowfall. Locals & tourists who were stuck in about 320 vehicles were rescued near Sela Pass in Tawang on Monday. As per reports, these people were stuck near the pass due to heavy snowfall.

As per reports by NDTV, three rescue teams were sent from the nearest army base at Baisakhi on getting information that the people were stranded in the icy mountains, 13,000 feet above sea level. In March 2017, a similar situatio had occurred where army teams had rescued 127 people who got stuck at the same location due to heavy snowfall.

As per details by Skymet Weather report, the remnants of Western Disturbance which gave good rain and snow over the Western Himalayas are now affecting the northeastern parts of India. In the fast few months, scattered rains have occurred over Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sub Himalayan West Bengal.

Due to heavy snowfall, few places in Arunachal Pradesh have been painted white with the snowfall. The northeastern states witnessed cool weather during the day and chilly nights. The chills threw normal life out of gear in Arunachal Pradesh.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the Border Road Task Force (BRTF) of the Border Road Organisation (BRO) started snow clearing operation on the strategically important Manali-Leh highway. The operation will provide connectivity to the Lahaul-Spiti tribals with the rest of the state. As per reports, the highway was blocked from last year December due to heavy snowfall.

It must be noted that every year BRO starts snow clearing work in late March and takes over two months to make the road pliable. To recall, the 474km-long Manali-Leh highway gets blocked after heavy winter snow in November and December and is thrown open for vehicular traffic only after April.  The Highway that attracts a number of backpackers, especially foreign nationals, winds its way through the Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft), Baralacha Pass (16,020 ft), Lachlungla Pass (16,620 ft) and Tanglangla (17,480 ft).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 13, 2018 04:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).