GANGTOK, April 25 � Due to heavy rainfall accompanied by snow storm more than 250 tourist vehicles and around 1,500 tourists including women and children were stranded on the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg near Nathula.
A sudden downpour resulted in multiple landslides and ice formation at many places along the road which resulted in disruption of road and telephone communications. Realising the gravity of the situation, the Black Cat Division of the Army mobilised rescue teams from nearby Army units to rescue the stranded tourists and drivers of the vehicles to safety. The Army also provided food and shelter to them for the night.
The task was made more challenging due to poor visibility and heavy snowfall. The task of rescuing the tourists continued well into the night and by about 3.30 am today all the tourists had been rescued.
The tourists were also provided medical attention, warm clothing, tea and refreshments prior to their safe evacuation to various Army units located at 17 Mile and 13 Mile locations. Army Jawans and officers moved out of their accommodation to provide the drenched tourists shelter for the night. The tourists were also provided hot water, blankets and food in the Army units.
Doctors asked not to prescribe antibiotics
Agartala, April 25 � Gobinda Ballav Pant Hospital and Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) authorities here have asked doctors of the casualty unit not to prescribe antibiotics for patients before admitting them to the hospital, official sources said.
Sources in the Health department said the hospital superintendent in a recent circular had asked the doctors of the casualty block not to prescribe antibiotics due to a suspected nexus between some physicians and pharmaceutical companies.
Doctors in the casualty block often prescribe a long list of antibiotics compelling the patients to buy them immediately, but when they are admitted to the hospital, specialist doctors often find those medicines as useless and change the prescriptions, the sources said.
Sources said, the decision for issuing the circular was taken in a review meeting of the senior doctors.
