VADODARA: While most families of pilgrims in Uttarakhand managed to contact their relatives, a family from Undera in the city was not reachable. The relatives, however, had some respite as those accompanying the family were safe and could be contacted on phone.

Babu Parmar, whose parents, daughter and niece are in Uttarakhand said that after a person in Por near the city, another person from Vadodara too had contacted his relatives. "This is a fair indication that the entire group that went from the city is safe as they were together. There are several persons who are being rescued by helicopters. As and when they reach a safe place, they contact their relatives. There is a heavy rush to get out of the affected area," said Parmar.

A group of eight persons from Dahod who had gone on a pilgrimage in a private car had to spend over two days in a car. One of the members Kishor Modhiya managed to contact his family and relayed the tragedy to them.

But pilgrims are now getting stranded at Haridwar where they are being taken to after being rescued. Harish Trivedi from Vadodara, whose relatives were brought to Haridwar, said that there were no arrangements for food and stay there. He said that the rush had lead to the situation.