China is pressing ahead with preparations to open the new second Kailash Manasarovar Yatra road route to Indian pilgrims on June 22 despite difficulties caused by the recent devastating earthquake in Nepal which has badly affected the border regions in Tibet.
"While coping with the earthquake and despite the difficulties, relevant authorities of China are pressing ahead with the preparation work for opening the route in a well-organised way," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in an e-mail response to PTI here.
The first batch of the pilgrims was expected to travel through the new land route through Nathu La in Sikkim on June 22.
Several Indian and Chinese officials were expected to take part in the event.
The April 25 devastating earthquake in Nepal has also caused havoc in the border regions of Tibet with heavy landslides and house collapses.
Eighteen people were killed in Tibet and dozens injured in the quake.
The damage caused by the earthquake has earlier created uncertainty about this year's Kailash pilgrimage.
However, China said preparations for the new route were made keeping up with the schedule.
China has agreed to open the second route, which is completely accessible by road during last year's visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a request to Xi on the issue.
Indian Ambassador to China Ashok Kantha had visited Tibet and travelled to Kailash Manasarovar last October to discuss the preparations with Chinese officials.
About 250 people were expected to take part in batches to go to pilgrimage in batches.
India wanted the route as it facilitates journey by buses directly from the border point to Kailash without the ordeal of trekking and travel on horse backs.
With this, the pilgrims will have two routes, one through Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and another through Nathu La.
