Sign in

3 Indians, 1 Canadian killed while on Kailash Mansarovar yatra

Four people died while going through the Nepalgung-Simikot-Hisla route to complete the religious yatra. The deaths have been attributed to health problems from low acclimatization to the high altitude.

Updated on: Jun 19, 2016, 14:00:49 IST
Hindustan Times | By , Kathmandu
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Three Indian pilgrims and one Canadian of Indian origin have been killed in Tibet while undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Thousands undertake the Kailash Mansarovar yatra every year between April and June, the summer months. (HT File Photo)
Thousands undertake the Kailash Mansarovar yatra every year between April and June, the summer months. (HT File Photo)

The deaths, which took place between Thursday and Saturday, were due to a cardiac arrest and altitude sickness as a result of low acclimatisation to high altitudes in the Himalayas.

“All the deaths took place in the Tibet region of China over the last three days with the last casualty happening on Saturday,” deputy chief of mission of Indian embassy in Kathmandu, Vinay Kumar, told Hindustan Times.

The deceased have been identified as 59-year-old Daulat Singh from Madhya Pradesh, 62-yeal-old B Lingeshwara, 76-year-old Bhogilal Patel from Rajasthan and 62-year-old Krishna Murthy, a Canadian of Indian origin.

Singh’s body reached India by road while three were airlifted to Kathmandu. Of these, one has been sent back to India while the remaining two will be sent on Sunday.

The Indian embassy in the Himalayan nation issued a travel advisory earlier this month to avoid the Nepalgunj-Simikot-Hisla route for a few weeks due to inclement weather.

Read | India issues travel advisory for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims

Despite the advisory being issued after nearly 500 pilgrims were left stranded on the route due to bad weather conditions, there has been no let up in the traffic.

Local reports say over 3,000 Indian pilgrims have already crossed through Nepalgunj-Simikot-Hisla on their pilgrimage. Most of them fly from Nepalgunj to Simikot in small aircrafts and then take helicopters from Simikot to Hisla, which is on the border with China.

Thousands undertake the Kailash Mansarovar yatra every year between April and June.

The Nepalgunj-Simikot-Hisla route came into operation after China closed the Tatopani border with Nepal following the devastating earthquake last year.

  • Utpal Parashar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Utpal Parashar

    A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.