Stuck on way to snowbound temple, 8 Punjab tourists rescued

In a dramatic rescue operation, eight tourists from Punjab stranded in the snowbound area near Kamrunag Temple in Mandi district were brought to safety by local villagers and the police yesterday. The group had arrived at Kamrunag Temple despite the temple gates being closed for the season.

According to police, on Saturday, a taxi from Jalandhar, Punjab, dropped the tourists at Sarayach, where they halted for the night. The next morning, they proceeded on foot towards the temple. However, after a delayed visit to the temple, they lost their way due to the darkness. Heavy snowfall had blocked roads, making the area treacherous and impassable for unfamiliar visitors.

The situation became tense when the taxi driver, who had been resting in the vehicle, woke up to find that the tourists had not returned. Concerned, he sought the help from the local villagers. A joint rescue operation was launched by the police and villagers and the tourists were located and brought to safety. They were then safely escorted to the nearest road, from where they were able to return home.

"The entire rescue operation was completed successfully despite the challenging conditions," the police said.