TAAN urge Govt. to arrange alternative route for pilgrims to Mansarovar as the bridge collapse

After the collapse of Miteri Bridge linking border between Nepal and China, hundreds of pilgrims, mostly from India, have been stranded. The bridge collapsed due to the flash flood that hit Rasuwa district of Nepal on Tuesday.

Issuing a statement Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) has expressed concern over the incident. Sonam Gyalgen Sherpa, general secretary of TAAN issuing a statement drawn the government’s attention saying that the flood in Lhende River in Rasuwa swept away the Miteri Bridge lying in the Nepal – China border, which caused problem to the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims. With the collapse of the Miteri Bridge hundreds of Nepalese and foreign travellers on the journey towards Kailash Mansarovar have been deprived to enter into Tibet, he said in the statement.

He urged the Nepal government to request China goverrnment to make alternative arrangements for the travellers for the time being. He asked the government to facilitate travellers to visit Kailash Mansarovar from other alternative routes such as Tatopani, Korola and Hilsa to enter the region.

As the China government opened Kailash Mansarovar visit to pilgrims this year after closure for around five year due to the corona outbreak, some 25,000 travellers from India are expected to visit holy Kailash Mansarovar region.

As the flood in the Lhende River hit Rasuwa district on Tuesday possibly due to the outburst of a glacial lake in China, nine people were killed, 19 went missing and dozens of vehicles were swept away as well as ten hydropower projects suffer damage.