Several pilgrims from districts of south Odisha are reported to be stranded in floodwater in some areas of Uttarakhand.

According to sources, around 40 of them are from Paralakhemundi area in Gajapati district and around twenty are from Ganjam district. As per unconfirmed reports twenty other pilgrims from Koraput and Malkangiri districts are also stranded in the flood-hit mountainous area.

The pilgrims from Gajapati district had reached Uttarakhand for ‘chardham yatra’ that includes visit to Kedarnath and Gangotri area, which were worst affected by the recent floods. They had gone there in two batches of thirty members each. According to the information provided by one of these stranded pilgrims, M. Dharmaraju of R. Sitapur village near Paralakhemundi, twenty pilgrims from Gajapati district had safely returned to Haridwar, while the others were stranded at Uttarakashi, Gangotri and Kedarnath.

Telephone contact

These stranded pilgrims also made telephone contact with the Paralakhmeundi MLA K. Narayan Rao, urging his intervention for their rescue. Speaking to the mediapersons, Mr. Rao said he has drawn attention of Gajapati district administration and the Chief Minister’s office regarding the plight of these stranded pilgrims. After receiving information, Gajapati district administration has started collecting information regarding all persons of the district stranded in Uttarakhand. Similar measures have also been initiated by the Ganjam district administration.

Meanwhile, the State Home Secretary Upendra Nath Behera declared that Odisha government was making all possible efforts for safe return of Odia pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand. According to him the resident commissioner of Odisha posted in New Delhi was in touch with Uttarakhand government regarding state of Odia pilgrims stranded there.