Heavy snow fall in the higher reaches of Tawang District since 22 February 2024 has resulted in disruption of traffic and closure of roads. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has gone beyond their mandate of keeping the roads open for traffic to carrying out a rescue operation in order to evacuate approximately 70 tourists and locals stranded at the Sela Pass.
The incident took place when some vehicles got stranded at the Pass on the night of 22/23 February and 42 BRTF of Project Vartak mobilised its men and equipment to rescue them. The team braved out the chilling cold with temperatures going below -10 degree celsius to save precious lives throughout the night and were able to move them to safety by 4:30 am on 23rd February. Project Vartak has deployed men and personnel round the clock at not only Sela Pass but other important roads in the region as well in order to keep them accessible for traffic at all times.