First batch of Kailash Mansarowar yatra reaches Kalapani camp

The first batch of 51 pilgrims on Kailash Mansarowar yatra has reached at Kala Pani camp on its way to Lipulekh pass from where it is scheduled to cross into Tibet on June 25, official sources said today.
According to Kumaon Mandal Vikash Nigam (KMVN), the nodal agency designated for this yatra by the Government of India, the advancing of first batch which reached the camp on way to Kailash Mansarowar today, was decided by the ministry of External Affairs.
The timing of its crossing into Tibet is yet to be decided as the Chinese officials have been already told about suspension of yatra this year due to harsh weather conditions on track route, the KMVN officials said.

"Only after the government of India requests the Chinese authorities to receive the first batch, they would come at the pass to receive the Indian pilgrims," said D K Sharma, GM tourism, KMVN.
According to Nigam officials, decision on rest of the batches will be taken on July 2, when the ministry talks to the agencies concerned for the arrangements for this pilgrimage.
The batch of 53 members which started initially has been reduced to 51 at Bundi camp after two pilgrims fell ill at the camp.

"The ill couple is being taken to base camp in Dharchula by the ITBP personnels," said the Nigam officer.

A total of 18 batches of pilgrims are scheduled to have a glimpse of holy mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva, and take a holy bath in the sacred lake of Mansarovar.
Each batch takes 22 days to complete the yatra. Out of these, 14 days are in Indian territory and eight days are inside the Chinese territory of Tibet.
The total distance of this yatra is 647 km (one side) in the Indian territory and 243 km (one side) inside the Chinese territory.
Meanwhile in Dharamsahala in Himachal Pradesh, hundreds of Tibetans in-exile today offered prayers for the flash-flood victims of Uttarakhand and Kinnaur.

About 1,000 monks, also made an appeal to provide generous help of all kinds to the affected people.
An appeal has been made to donate for the victims as a "gesture of solidarity", Sonam Dorjee, head of the local Tibetan Settlement Office, which organised the prayers said.
"The donations raised by our office would be forwarded to the chief ministers' relief funds for rehabilitation of people both in Himachal and Uttarakhand," he said.
The Tibetan government-in-exile Sunday had yesterday announced to contribute Rs three lakh to the Chief Minister's relief Fund for the flood victims.