NEW DELHI: A woman,54, in the first batch of Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrims comprising of 50 men and 10 women which was flagged off from Delhi on June 11, died in her yatra on way back in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China on Sunday, June 28. She has been identified as one Beena Gupta.
According to a report, she developed sickness on the high altitude, arduous trekking route that passes through Uttarakhand before crossing into China-
occupied Tibet at Lipulekh and was not taking food for two days. Arrangements are being made by the Ministry of External Affairs to bring her body back to Delhi.
The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) conducts the yatra in cooperation with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Chinese Government.
On this Lipulekh route (SEE ROUTE MAP) trekking involves about 200 km, 35 km for parikrama of Kailash-Mansarovar, from the border pass. On some stretches ponies are also available. The Indian Ministry arranges for yatra of 18 batches of 60 pilgrims each. It takes 25 days, from June to September. Apart from being difficult to travel, the route is susceptible to landslides and other natural calamities. Therefore, from Nathu La Pass in Sikkim a new route was opened on June 22. The Ministry arranges for yatra of 5 batches of 50 pilgrims each and it takes 23 days, from June to September. Here the journey is by bus and the Chinese will take care. The trip is smooth although it takes 1500 km. The Tibet Autonomous Region has built new hotels and improved roads and provide guides and food.
