Wednesday, September 22, 2010

140 pilgrims from state stranded in Uttarakhand

BANGALORE: At least 140 persons from Karnataka who went on a Chardham Yatra, a pilgrimage to holy places in the Himalayas, are stranded in Uttarakhand.

Bhavani Srinath, 45, who is part of the team, called her brother VN Murthy in Bangalore on Tuesday to inform them about it. Most of travellers are from Bangalore and Mangalore.

The earthquake which shook Afghanistan over the weekend had its impact on Uttarkashi and Uttarakhand, leading to landslides which have caused road blocks. The incessant rain has worsened the situation.

VN Murthy told TOI his sister and 38 others were stranded in Joshihara for the past five days. The team of 140 people left Bangalore for Delhi on September 14 and hired four buses there to visit the holy places. From Delhi, they had moved to Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Uttarkashi. "Only 36 people are traceable now and three buses are inaccessible. It's believed they may be stranded between Yamunotri and Gangotri," he said.

Murthy said: "My sister said the roads were blocked due to landslides and the situation has been worsened by incessant rain. They haven't got any help and the food they have may last them only another day or two. We've been trying to contact them for the past six days," he said.

Murthy said those stranded should be evacuated to safer places. "We have contacted the central and state governments. We expect they'll start rescue work on a war footing," he said. As per the original schedule, they were expected to return on September 29.

TOI

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