Nepal Waives Trekking Fees for Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrims as Flood Death Toll Reaches 579
Kathmandu — Nepal has temporarily waived trekking fees and other requirements for foreign nationals returning from the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through the Hilsa border crossing in Humla district as authorities respond to widespread disruption caused by devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi River.
The Department of Immigration said Friday that the one-week waiver applies to foreign pilgrims who had previously obtained departure permits from the Immigration Office in Rasuwa.
The measure took effect Aug. 27, with officials citing the difficult conditions and the need to prioritize the safety of stranded travelers.
Foreign nationals traveling through the Hilsa border point normally pass through an area classified as restricted and are required to pay a trekking fee of $50 per person per week. That fee has now been suspended for one week to help pilgrims return through the alternative border crossing.
The department also waived insurance requirements for foreign nationals and trekking guides using the route. Pilgrims will temporarily not be required to travel with a trekking guide.
Officials said the measures are intended to facilitate the safe return of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims after flooding damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure along the Rasuwa-Timure route connecting Nepal with China.
As of Aug. 26, 93 people had received departure permits from the Immigration Office in Rasuwa, including 32 Indian nationals, according to the department.
The Rasuwagadhi route had become one of the main routes used by pilgrims traveling to Kailash Mansarovar, but extensive flood damage has made continued travel through the area difficult.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said 579 bodies had been recovered from the floods as of Friday evening, while 1,924 people remained missing or out of contact. (Source: IANS)
