The former Minister and Karnataka Janata Paksha leader Shobha Karandlaje is among the pilgrims stranded in the hilly State of Uttarakhand by landslides, and flash floods in the Ganga and its tributaries, following heavy rain.

Speaking to the media on the telephone, Ms. Karandlaje said, “I have been stranded in Budla village in Rudraprayag since Sunday morning. A large number of pilgrims are taking shelter in a house located atop a hill. I am the only person from Karnataka in this group, and one more batch of pilgrims is stranded about 15 km away from here.”

Ms. Karandlaje, who left Bangalore on June 12 for the pilgrimage, said she got stuck in that village after leaving Uttarkashi. “We were on the way to Kedar. But we were forced to stop here since the roads are blocked by landslides and falling trees. It appears as though parts of the mountains have fallen on the road,” she said.

“It is difficult to differentiate between the sky and the earth here as the clouds appear to be touching the road in this hilly area. It is raining so heavily that visibility is poor,” she said. When asked if she had sought any help from Karnataka, she said, “Nobody can do anything here as it is just impossible for anybody to even approach this area. We have to wait for nature to become calm.”

Bangalore District Brahmana Sabha President Mrutyunjaya, who was carrying ashes of legendary playback singer P.B. Srinivas for immersion at Gangotri, is also among the people stranded at Uttarakhand