A group of tourists passing through the Cordillera del Himalayasin northeastern India, were buried in snow after an avalanche shook the area where they were.

Seven people were found dead near Nathu La mountain pass, and others 22 people were rescued from the snow.

“Unfortunately, seven people died of their injuries,” Lt. Col. Mahendra Rawat said. “It is feared that between 20 and 30 tourists aboard five or six vehicles on their way to Nathu La may have been buried in snow,” the army spokesman added.

State disaster response teams, the army and police were still searching for the missing, the army statement said.

The avalanche occurred in the tourist area of ​​Sikkim state (northeast), bordering Tibet. Due to weather conditions, this area is prone to avalanches.

It is estimated that there were about 150 tourists in the area when the avalanche occurred.