Tibet crisis delays Mansarovar yatra

India on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the visit of first two batches of pilgrims for the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra that was to begin from June one following China's inability to receive the pilgrims citing 'domestic reasons'.

China was recently hit by a massive earthquake, which caused widespread death and destruction.

An official spokesman said in response to a question in New Delhi that the pilgrimage would now commence from June 13 with batch number three scheduled to leave from New Delhi and efforts were being made with the Chinese authorities to accommodate the pilgrims of the first two batches in the following ones.

The government of the Peoples Republic of China conveyed to the Ministry of External Affairs, India, that on account of domestic reasons they would not be in a position to receive pilgrims before June 21.

The MEA is continuing its efforts with the government of the People's Republic of China to accommodate the pilgrims of the batch numbers one and two in later batches, the spokesman said.