Ukhand: Remaining Amarnath batches likely to be airlifted

The remaining four batches of Kailash Mansarovar yatris are likely to be airlifted from Gunji toDharchula in the district as the trek route between Mangti and Malpa was badly damaged in a recent landslide, an official said today.
The route is not likely to be repaired before a month as there is tonnes ofdebris, making it ruggedand uneven for yatris to trek, DKSharma, Kumaun Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) officer in-charge of this year's yatra said.
Fourteen batches have completed the pilgrimage this year till date, sources in the Nigam said.
The 15thbatch, which is in China, will reach the Lipulekh pass on August 23, making way for the 16th batch to cross over to Tibet on the same day, they said.

The 17thbatch of pilgrims will cross into Tibet on August26while the 18th and the last batch will reach Tibet on August 30, they said.
"The Kailash pilgrimage this year will be concluded in September with the last batch of pilgrims likely to reach New Delhi on September 10," the KMVN officer said.

Meanwhile, Pithoragarh district administration has launched a website to help relatives of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims to find their family members' exact location during the pilgrimage.
"Weare keeping thealternative route for the Yatra open as thestate government has provided chopper services from Dharchula to Vyas valleyfree of costfor the pilgrimsand for villagers who happen to be stranded in villagesof Vyas valley beyond Malpa due toblockage ofthe trek route," said Pithoragarh District Magistrate C Ravishankar.

Landslides triggered by a cloudburst at Malpa on August 14 killed five persons besides leaving 20 villagers and hotel owners missing who remain untraced despite a search operation by the the SDRF, ITBP, SSB and state police.