Andhra pilgrims stranded in Tibet as floods block routes to Mount Kailash

Several pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh are among those stranded in and around Darchen in China's Tibet Autonomous Region after flash floods damaged roads and blocked routes in the region, said a pilgrim from Adoni in Kurnool district on Wednesday.

Nivarthi Ranganath Sastri, who is currently in Darchen with his family, said several groups of Telugu-speaking pilgrims were present in the region, though the exact number of pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh and other states could not be ascertained.

"Groups associated with the Isha Foundation were also present in the region, with each group having at least 150 members, and that around 15 such groups were operating in the area," Sastri told PTI.

Darchen, located around 10 km from Mount Kailash, is a key base for pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Parikrama (circumambulation). The affected area, including Darchen and the route towards Mansarovar, falls within a radius of around 60 km.

Sastri and his family reached Kathmandu on August 18 and subsequently travelled to Tibet as part of their pilgrimage. They are currently staying in Darchen, while the road through which they travelled to Tibet has been washed away or severely affected by the flash floods, he said.

While the situation in Darchen itself is currently stable, pilgrims are unable to leave the area because the roads have been blocked. Movement to nearby places is also restricted, with permissions required from Chinese authorities, said Sastri.

He said the authorities in the Tibet region were very strict about movement and that the main concern was the lack of clarity on when or how pilgrims would be able to leave Darchen because the routes were blocked.

Sastri said his group had been scheduled to undertake the three-day Kailash Parikrama around Mount Kailash. One batch from the group left for the Parikrama on Wednesday morning, while he stayed back as he was suffering from chest congestion and altitude sickness.

His wife and parents also did not go for the Parikrama and remained in Darchen, he said.

The pilgrims who went for the Parikrama were expected to return by Thursday afternoon after completing the route. Their situation would become clearer once they returned, he said.

Sastri said his 65-year-old mother and 29-year-old wife were among the family members staying with him in Darchen, adding that many other women and children were also among the pilgrims stranded in the region.

He said family members remained in regular contact with one another and were staying in hotels located close to each other.

Hotels were currently providing food and other essential supplies to the pilgrims, and there had been no immediate shortage reported in Darchen, said Sastri.

However, he stressed that the larger concern was the inability to move out of the area due to the damaged and blocked roads.

Sastri urged the Government of India to take the initiative to assist the stranded pilgrims and ensure their safe evacuation or return.

The stranded pilgrims are part of a larger group of people who travelled to the Mount Kailash-Mansarovar region for religious purposes.