Seven Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims died this year: MEA

Seven pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar through the Nepal route have died this year, Lok Sabha was informed today.
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh also said an incident of Indian citizens being mishaved by Nepal airlines and Nepalese administration while they were returning from Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has come to the government's notice and the issue was taken up strongly with the Himalayan nation.
"In 2016, as per the information available, 7 yatris travelling through Nepal route have passed away," he said.
About the misbehaving incident, he said Indian embassy has asked the authorities there to investigate the matter and take appropriate punitive action against those found guilty.

"Yes. Such an incident was brought to the notice of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
"The matter was taken up strongly by our Ambassador in Nepal with the then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal stressing the need for Nepalese authorities to investigate the matter and take appropriate punitive action against those found guilty so as to deter recurrence of such incidents," said Singh.

He said the Nepal route for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is organised by private tour operators and pilgrims on this route have reported facing several difficulties including being stranded at times due to inclement weather, limited infrastructural facilities and capacity constraints.

"There have also been reports of yatris facing serious health issues, which sometimes have resulted in fatalities," he said.
Replying to a separate question, Singh said foreign governments may deny visa or entry to any Indian travelling with a non-machine readable passport.
"The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had set a deadline of the 24 November, 2015 for globally phasing out all non-Machine Readable Passports.
"Out of approximately 6.5 crore valid Indian passports in circulation as on date, about 2.0 lakh passports are estimated to be non-Machine Readable Passports," he said.