Karmapa airlifted to Leh from Lahaul

22 Sep 2008, TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES

SHIMLA: The second most important Tibetan spiritual leader after the Dalai Lama, Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorjee, and 13 of his followers, were airlifted from Lahaul valley on Sunday after the region was rendered out-of-bounds following more than 48 hours of snowfall.

"The 17th Karmapa and his 13 followers were rescued this afternoon from Baralacha pass in Lahaul and Spiti district," said Mandi divisional commissioner Ashwani Kumar. "The Karmapa and his followers are fine and in good health," said Lahaul and Spiti police chief Prem Kumar Thakur.

The Karmapa has been on a religious tour of Buddhist monastries in the district since September 8. He was on his way to the monastries in Lahaul and Spiti from Leh when he got stranded on the Leh-Manali highway.

"We have dropped food items, water, medicines and blankets to the people who are stranded on the route to Leh near the high passes Baralacha and Kunzam La," said Sudha Devi, deputy commissioner of Kullu.

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