Landslide prone areas pose threat to Kailash Mansarovar yatra

Pithoragarh: Landslide-prone stretches along the 150 km-long Tanakpur–Pithoragarh highway (NH-9) pose a major challenge to the Kailash Mansarovar yatra, which is set to resume via Lipulekh Pass from June 30. The route has around 60 vulnerable spots, including critical sections at Amori, Singda, Amruband, Swala, Chalthi, and Delli Bend. Last year, Swala remained blocked for 23 days, forcing traffic to be diverted through Haldwani. These stretches often see frequent closures during the monsoon, raising concerns whether the yatra can be conducted smoothly.
Resuming after a five-year halt, the pilgrimage will be undertaken by 250 devotees divided into five groups of 50. For the first time, the yatra will be conducted entirely by road on the Indian side, following the completion of the Tawaghat–Lipulekh road by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 2022. The journey will begin from Tanakpur and span 22 days, with the first batch crossing into China via Lipulekh Pass on July 10 and the last returning to India on Aug 22.
"Out of 60 landslide-prone sites, many have been treated," said Vivek Kumar, assistant engineer, National Highways. "Work on about eight key stretches is still pending due to lack of detailed project report (DPR) approvals, and tenders for treatment have been invited for two locations," he added. Labourers, earth movers, and other equipment have been deployed at various spots to clear the road in case of landslides, he added.
"Last year, there were some problems at two or three places during the rainy season. Instructions were given to complete treatment work before the yatra, and a weekly review of the work is being conducted," said Navneet Pande, DM, Champawat.