Kailash pilgrims seek medical facilities in Tibet

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, July 2

Pained at the death of one of their companions in Tibet, members of the first batch of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims have said that they will meet Indian Foreign Ministry officials in Delhi and demand medical facilities for Indian pilgrims in Tibet. The non-availability of medical facilities during the yatra cost Delhi resident Veena Gupta her life. “Had she got medical attention in time, her life would have been saved,” said Rashik Bhai Modi, the oldest pilgrim of the batch.

The first batch pilgrims, who reached Pithoragarh on their return from the yatra, said they did not receive sufficient medical and communication facilities in Tibet, thus making their pilgrimage somewhat less enjoyable. “The communication facilities they received in Dharchula to Lipulekh end were provided through Nepal and thereafter the pilgrims had to depend on satellite phones to communicate with their family members from Tibet,” said a pilgrim.

The pilgrims said the Indian government should send a medical team with every batch even to Tibet as the Chinese authorities did not care for Indian pilgrims. “It was difficult to travel on the 4-km icy track in Tibet without sufficient medical facilities,” they said. However, some pilgrims were happy as the Chinese authorities for the first time gave them citations, bags, blankets, torches and other essential materials needed for the yatra.

SSB jawans seize goods

Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel patrolling the border with Nepal at Banbasa in Champawat district have seized goods worth Rs 1 lakh being taken to the neighbouring country without paying custom duty.

Narendra Sharma, Deputy Commandant of the SSB, said the seized goods, including fertilizers, sugar, cement, refined oil and pesticides, were seized at Dhanus Pul near Banbasa town while being carried on a motorcycle and a bicycle to Nepal without paying custom duty.