The first group of 59 pilgrims going on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra reached Almora from Delhi on Wednesday night. They stayed in Almora for the night and will be continuing their Yatra today to Mirthi in Pithoragarh. Uttarakhand police will be providing them with an escort team till Gunji, from where the Indo-Tibetan Border Police will take over.
Inspector General (IG) of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Sanjay Gunjyal said, “The first group will be reaching at Almora on Wednesday. They will take the route to Mirthi through Pithoragarh to Dharchula, where at Dharchula they will be having a night halt. Till Gunji state police will provide escorts to the pilgrims for their safety. It will in head and tail manner, with district police constables at head and tail, few personnel of SDRF will be in the middle with medical team and wireless sets.”
Pithoragarh Superintendent of Police (SP) RC Rajguru said, “The area near Malpa and Najam is disaster affected area and has a steep climb. Till Lakhanpur vehicles can go, but after that it will be a bridle path. A group of two constables of district police, medical team and four to five SDRF personnel will be escorting the pilgrims till Gunji.”
