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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
ITBP, NDRF rescue 413 pilgrims stranded on Kinner Kailash trek
Shimla: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, in an overnight operation that continued until Wednesday morning, rescued as many as 413 pilgrims who were stranded on the Kinner Kailash Yatra route in Kinnaur district. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This was due to incessant rains that washed away two makeshift bridges at Tangi Valley and at Kangyarang Nallah on the Kinner Kailash trek. Kinnaur deputy commissioner Amit Kumar Sharma stated that the area was pitch dark, and with only portable lights, this overnight operation spanning over nine hours was powered by sheer commitment from the ITBP and NDRF teams. The Kinnaur district administration has suspended the Kinner Kailash Yatra on Tuesday until further orders. The ITBP spokesperson stated that responding to a requisition from the Kinnaur deputy commissioner, the force deployed a rescue team with mountaineering and rope rescue and climbing (RRC) equipment after two makeshift bridges on the Kinner Kailash Yatra route were washed away due to incessant rains, leaving several pilgrims stranded. The Kinner Kailash Yatra started on July 15 and would end on August 30. Each day, 350 pilgrims are allowed to undertake the Yatra. The pilgrimage starts from Kalpa in Kinnaur district, ending at the 6,050-metre high peak at Kinner Kailash, also considered the winter abode of Lord Shiva. MSID: 123141139 413 |
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Indian Express
2,000 Indians visit Shipki-La near China in just two weeks as Himachal opens doors to border tourism
Just two weeks after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu threw open Shipki-La for border tourism, the high-altitude India-China frontier in Himachal's tribal Kinnaur district has already seen a surge. Nearly 2,000 domestic tourists, including women and children, have visited the site since June 10. Despite zero publicity and strict regulations, the enthusiasm has stunned even the security personnel. 'The response has been extraordinary,' said a senior officer of the 43rd Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which is stationed at Shipki-La. 'Between June 10 and June 22, a total of 1,882 Indian tourists comprising 1,382 men, 367 women, and 133 children visited the area.' Tourists are only allowed one hour at the pass, which sits at 3,930 metres above sea level, and no more than 15 to 20 minutes at the Zero Point. This is the main attraction where visitors can see Chinese territory with the naked eye under tight ITBP and Indian Army supervision. Visitors move in small, controlled batches of 10 to 15 people, escorted by security personnel. 'We don't allow anyone near the actual Zero Point unsupervised,' the ITBP officer said. 'The Chinese are watching directly across the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and even a misstep could spiral into a diplomatic crisis. Photography too is regulated.' Foreign nationals remain barred for now, though officials indicated they might be allowed later with valid Protected Area Permits (PAPs) or Restricted Area Permits (RAPs). Indian tourists currently need only a valid ID like an Aadhaar card or driver's license. June 22 recorded the highest turnout so far, with 282 visitors in a single day. While the border tourism initiative has created a buzz, the lack of infrastructure poses a major challenge. The 28 km stretch from Namgia village to Shipki-La is barren with no rest stops, no eateries, and no accommodations. Deputy Commissioner Kinnaur Amit Kumar Sharma acknowledged the interest but stressed caution. 'Shipki-La is a highly sensitive zone. We cannot allow just anyone to set up roadside stalls or guesthouses. Only locals will be given priority, and even that will take months of planning and coordination.' A joint committee comprising district officials, ITBP personnel, and the Kinnaur Eco-Tourism Society has been formed to ensure sustainable development. 'The people of Namgia Gram Panchayat will play a vital role in this transformation,' the DC added. Namgia Panchayat, which includes the villages of Khab, Tashigang, and Namgia, has just 620 residents. The last Indian village, Khab, is about 26 km from the LAC. Local taxi driver Surat Singh Negi, who ferries tourists from Reckong Peo to Namgia, said, 'Most tourists come from Peo or Pooh. The interest has gone up sharply, but we need better roads and facilities.' Baldev Negi, Pradhan of Namgia Panchayat, recalled the days of India-China cross-border trade before it was halted. 'I went to Gartog in Tibet in 1985. That was the last time we could travel there freely. It's now called Kuncho by the Chinese and lies 250 km from Shipki,' he said. Negi reminisced about bartering rice, jaggery, Dalhousie-made mats, coral and turquoise in exchange for Chinese crockery, jackets, goats, and Chumurti horses. He's hopeful tourism will revive the region's economy. 'We rely mostly on horticulture such as apples, apricots, and almonds, but there's a growing buzz around homestays and tourism. It's a chance to reconnect with our history and culture.' A paramilitary officer noted that despite being motorable, Shipki-La isn't a typical tourist mountain. 'Weather changes fast. The pass shuts down from mid-September to May every year. We can't let tourists linger. It's too risky.' Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, during the inauguration on June 10, had framed the initiative as both strategic and cultural. 'Shipki-La is not just a gateway to untapped natural beauty. It can boost the local economy. We will also urge the Centre to open the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route via Shipki-La, the easiest of all possible routes,' he said, adding he would raise the matter directly with the Prime Minister.
