Mansarovar Yatra deferred by a week

Dehradun, June 1 (UNI) The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, which was scheduled to begin today, has been deferred by a week due to heavy snowfall near Dharchula in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.

Decision to this effect was taken by the Centre on the request of Pithoragarh district administration. The Pithoragarh District Administration has requested the KMVN (Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam), the Yatra organising unit, and the Centre to consider delaying the start of the Yatra by one week due to heavy snowfall on the Dharchula trek route during the past 48 hours.

The Indo- Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) too had reportedly confirmed that the yatra routes were covered with three ft high snow. A letter urging the Centre to consider postponement of the Yatra was yesterday sent to the Centre by the Pithoragarh District Magistrate, Kunal Sharma.

Confirming the report, KMVN Tourism Development Officer D.K.

Sharma said that the yatra would begin on June 7th. He said that the first batch of 34 pilgrims that was seen off yesterday from Delhi was halted at Delhi itself.

This is for the first time in the history of Mansarovar Yatra that the local administration had urged the postponement of the Yatra.

UNI