Reckong Peo, Aug 12 — A 36-year-old pilgrim from West Bengal, identified as Dipankar Kirtania, was found dead on the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra route between Parvati Kund and the Kinnaur Kailash peak in Kinnaur district, police said on Monday.
Kirtania, son of Mahadev Kirtania and a resident of Chandiberia in South Rajarhat, Gopalpur, West Bengal, had set out on the challenging high-altitude pilgrimage when tragedy struck. His body was discovered among boulders on August 10 by a member of the temple committee and a Home Guard during a routine visit to the area.
The officials immediately alerted police, following which a joint rescue team — comprising police personnel, the Quick Response Team (QRT) and Home Guards — retrieved the body and brought it to Ganesh Cave. On August 11, the body was shifted to the Regional Hospital in Reckong Peo for post-mortem.
Kinnaur Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shekhar confirmed the incident, adding that the deceased’s relatives had been informed and had reached Reckong Peo. “Further investigation into the cause of death is underway,” he said.
Kirtania is the fourth pilgrim to die during this year’s yatra, which has also seen over 1,100 people rescued due to adverse weather and route disruptions. The pilgrimage was suspended after a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst on August 5 damaged parts of the route.
With restoration work now complete and weather conditions improving, the district administration has decided to resume the yatra from August 13. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kalpa, Amit Kalthaik, said offline registration will be conducted on August 13 and 14 starting at 6.00 am, with a limit of 250 pilgrims per day.
From August 15 onwards, registration will be available both online and offline, with 100 slots for each, plus 50 through KTA. “Registration slots for August 15 will open on August 13 at 2.30 pm. All other procedures will remain in line with earlier guidelines,” Kalthaik added.
The Kinnaur Kailash Yatra, which runs from July 15 to August 30, begins at Tangling village and concludes at the Kinnaur Kailash peak at an altitude of 6,050 metres above sea level. The trek is physically demanding, and only individuals aged 16–60 are generally permitted, with a medical fitness certificate required.
Pilgrims aged 60–70 may participate only if certified fit by the Primary Health Centre in Tangling.
