New Delhi

With the addition of a new route through Nathula in Sikkim and a total of 1,330 pilgrims, the upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is set to be the biggest ever, the selection draw for which was held today.

Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (ER&DPA) Sujata Mehta presided over the computerised draw of lots for the yatra for which around 2,500 applications were received.

Largest number of yatris would undertake the pilgrimage this year. The preparations have been very meticulous and innovative. It has been done through a complete online system with dedicated response for fairness and transparency, she told reporters.

Immediate sms and emails were sent out to the ones whose names were generated following the completion of the draw.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the new route via Nathula Pass in Sikkim will begin from June 18 for which India and China had signed a bilateral agreement during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit here in September last year.

The agreement provides for conducting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Nathula in addition to the existing Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand.

However, the Lipulekh route will open earlier on June 8 through which a total of 18 batches with 60 members each will be sent. Five batches of 50 members each will be sent via the Nathula route.

According to officials, an Integrated Voice Response System (IVRS) which was set up earlier this year has received more than 3,000 queries.

“The IVRS had an innovative call back feature. Over 500 call backs were made. All the applicants received unique registration number both by SMS and e-mail. After the draw of lots successful applicants as well as wait listed applicants were informed both by SMS and e-mail,” a statement said.

– PTI