HYDERABAD: All pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, who are stranded in Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand due to heavy floods, are safe. This was conveyed to chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy by his Uttarakhand counterpart Vijay Bahuguna on Monday, according to a press release.

Food, water and shelter are being provided to all the stranded pilgrims, the Uttarakhand CM said. About 20 relief camps are being set up between Dunda Market-Nalupari on Gangotri Road where about 5,000 people, most of them from Andhra Pradesh, are being given shelter.

According to the Uttarakhand government, about 200 to 300 people from AP are also stranded at Nalupari-Darasuband road and are lodged in a hotel there. Efforts are on to clear the road blockages and as soon as they are cleared all the pilgrims would be sent back to AP, assured Uttarakhand officials.

Meanwhile, commissioner for disaster management T Radha directed all the travel and tour operators in the state to furnish complete details of all the pilgrims sent to Chardham yatra within 24 hours so that the same could be sent to the Uttarakhand administration for relief and rescue operations. Travel operators can reach the department through Fax No.23451819, phone No.040-23456005 and cell No.9866396663.

Source: The Times of India, DT. June 18, 2013.