RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2570
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2018
AMOUNT SPENT ON KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA
2570. SHRI RANJIB BISWAL:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of pilgrims who undertook Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this year from Pithoragarh-Nepal and Nathula routes, route-wise;
(b) the details of facilities made available to them by Government and the amount spent thereon;
(c) whether a large number of pilgrims were stranded in Nepal while returning from the Yatra;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(e) whether all the pilgrims have been evacuated and brought back and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2018 is taking place through the Lipulekh route in Uttarakhand and the Nathu La route in Sikkim. There are 18 batches with 60 slots each for the Yatra through the Lipulekh route, and 10 batches with 50 slots each for
the Yatra through the Nathu La route. Government of India does not organize Yatra along the Nepal route.
(b) The Ministry of External Affairs provides assistance, on self-financing basis, to the Yatris undertaking the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra by providing facilities like transportation, accommodation, food, medical tests, guides etc, in coordination with the
State Governments of Uttarakhand, Delhi and Sikkim, along with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
(c) to (e) During the period 30 June to 8 July, 2018, approximately 1500 pilgrims on the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra organised by private tour operators through Nepal were stranded along the Hilsa-Simikot-Nepalganj route in Nepal while returning from Kailash-Manasarovar,
as a result of cancellation of flight operations in this route due to inclement weather. The Government, through the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, arranged safe return of all the pilgrims in close coordination with the Government of Nepal, tour operators,
and local airline/helicopter service providers in Nepal.
As on 7 August 2018, about 160 Indian pilgrims are held up at Hilsa and Simikot in Nepal due to inclement weather. The Government, through the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, continues to monitor the situation in order to ensure early return of all the pilgrims
in coordination with the Government of Nepal and other concerned agencies.
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