Choppers begin sorties as rescue ops resume

Secretary (Housing) A Venu Prasad,who is stationed at Rishikesh to oversee the operations,said: “With the resumption of rescue and relief operations,the teams have started transferring pilgrims from Nadrasu gurdwara in hired private vehicles.”

“By 7 pm,more than 200 pilgrims have reached the base relief camp set up at Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Management Trust in Rishikesh. Among the,over 100 have left for their Ludhiana,Moga,Chandigarh,Mahilpur,Amritsar,Jalandhar and Tanda,” he said.

“By Wednesday afternoon,all pilgrims stranded at Nadrasu gurdwara will be brought to Rishkesh in public transport,from where they would be sent to their destinations in Punjab,” said Prasad,adding that 6300 pilgrims had so far arrived in Punjab in state transport buses.

Speaking about the pilgrims stranded at Badrinath,Prasad said the choppers were in service to evacuate those struck there. “Now,Badrinath is the focus of Punjab government’s rescue teams. The government chopper today brought more than 113 pilgrims to Joshimath. The state has also dispatched a special team of trekkers to Badrinath to help rescue teams,” he added.

Prasad further said that more than 700 kg of eatables,including dry fruits,biscuits and milk have been sent in a chopper for the pilgrims stranded at Badrinath. A medical team has also landed at Rishikesh from Joshimath.

Meanwhile,the Sangrur chapter of Indian Medical Association has written to the Uttarakhan government offering medical help to the victims. The officials of the Punjab animal husbandry,fisheries and dairy development department have also decided to contribute a day’s salary for the victims of Uttrakhand floods.