Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims returning safely via Nepal: MEA

A day after cautioning that unrest in Nepal had disrupted the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the Indian embassy in Beijing on Thursday confirmed that border crossings have reopened and pilgrims are returning home safely.

“It is learnt that the border crossings are now operational and Indian pilgrims undertaking Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are able to return to India via Nepal in a safe and smooth manner. We thank the local authorities in the Tibet Autonomous Region and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their prompt assistance,” the embassy said in a statement.

Some Indian pilgrims had been stranded temporarily. Among them was a group from Rajasthan, including MLA Ritu Banawat, stuck near the Nepal-China border before being assisted by Indian and state officials.

On Wednesday, the mission had warned that the volatile situation in Nepal had affected routes used by private operators facilitating the pilgrimage. It had also urged Indians in Tibet to remain cautious given the high altitude and difficult terrain, and to stay updated through advisories issued by Indian missions in Beijing and Kathmandu.

The advisory came against the backdrop of unprecedented turmoil in Nepal. What began as anger over the government’s ban on 26 social media platforms quickly escalated into nationwide protests against corruption and political elitism, leaving at least two dozen people dead and hundreds injured.

Dubbed the “Gen-Z Movement” by locals, the protests erupted in Kathmandu on September 7 and spread rapidly to major cities including Pokhara, Biratnagar and Bharatpur. The embassy said helplines remain operational in both Beijing and Kathmandu for those seeking assistance.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, one of the most sacred and arduous pilgrimages for Hindus, attracts hundreds of Indians every year, many of whom transit through Nepal on their way to Tibet.