As of Tuesday, all the 13 Tibetans, who were trapped by heavy snow in a section of the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway on Monday evening, had been rescued by the officers of the armed police.

The Tibetans include seven drivers and six herdsmen, who were snow-trapped on highlands at an altitude of 5,000 meters and above.

Two armed police contingents were sent to rescue the victims, who braved a chilly temperature of minus 28 centigrade and the severe highland sickness, and tried very hard to drag the drivers out of the four snow-trapped trucks and the six herdsmen from a snow hole.

These Tibetans are now staying safe in barracks and are receiving medical treatment.

(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2006)