21 September 2008
Karmapa airlifted from blocked mountain pass
(IANS) The Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorjee was airlifted to Leh the capital of Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir, India) before travelling on to New Delhi, after he and his retinue were stranded at the 4,883 metre- high Baralacha pass in Lahaul and Spiti district for 48 hours due to heavy snowfall. He had embarked on a trip to Ladakh on 08 September. Apart from Ladakh, his tour was scheduled to visit Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, and he was headed towards the town of Keylong in Lahaul when heavy snowfall forced his 13-person entourage to cut their visit short. The Karmapa's secretary, Gompa Tsering said: "For the time being it has been cancelled. The visit will be re-planned".