2500 Trapped By Himalayan Slip

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29942, 2 October 1962, Page 17

2500 Trapped By Himalayan Slip

(N X.PA .-Reuter—Copyright)

NEW DELHI, Oct. 1 Heavy elead baa so far foiled efforts to drop supplies by air to more than 2500 Indian and Tibetan labourers trapped by a landslip In a desolate Himalayan valley. At least 50 have already died, according to official reports reaching New Delhi from the Spiti valley area, where the men were trapped almost a week ago. Some are suffering, from frostbite and snow-blindness, and supplies of kerosene and medicines are running tow. Wiroleas contact has been established with a party of Indian survey officials in the area, who lost »M their instruments and maps in the blizzard and landslip which swept the valley last Tuesday. A Government film unit is missing. One of the biggest mountain rescue operations in Himalayan history has been organised to reach the trapped men, but yesterday aloud made flying conditions too difficult to drop supplies. Four Sherpas have crossed the snowbound 14.000 ft Rditsng pros to lead the way

for relief parties aasembl.ng at Koksar. on the other side. If the weather improves, helicopters will be used to fly the sick and injured from the valley. The men—including Tibetan rnfiigres—have been employed by the Indian Gortrn. ment on building roads to provide supply routes to Indian forces threatened by the Chinese in the Ladakh border area.