Govt advises Kailash Yatra pilgrims to avoid Nepal route

KATHMANDU: The Indian government has issued a travel advisory to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims, urging them to avoid the Nepalgunj-Simikot-Hilsa route through

Published on: Jun 2, 2016, 08:19:12 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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KATHMANDU: The Indian government has issued a travel advisory to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims, urging them to avoid the Nepalgunj-Simikot-Hilsa route through Nepal for another few weeks due to deteriorating weather conditions.

The advisory from the Indian embassy comes after nearly 500 Indians were stranded in Nepal’s Hilsa and Simikot, located in the mountainous region close to the China border, due to bad weather. Rescue efforts were also hampered because of the unfavourable weather conditions.

Several pilgrims were rescued on Tuesday and brought to safer locations by helicopters and small aircraft, which carried out 50 flights between Hilsa, Simikot and Nepalgunj. But some of them are still stranded.

The government assured that all possible efforts are underway in cooperation with Nepal government and private tour operators to bring back the stranded pilgrims

Nearly 40,000 pilgrims and tourists, around 80% of them from India, take part in the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra every year, which takes place between May and July ahead of the monsoon season.

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

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