MANGALORE: All tourists from Mangalore city, who are on pilgrimage in Uttarakhand through a travel agency, safe at Gowrikund about 14 kilometres away from Kedarnath Temple.

The team comprising 47 tourists and seven workers of the tour operators continue to stay in the house of their hotel owner. The team had shifted to owner's houses as the hotel is located on the banks of river. City based Nirmala Travels had arranged the tour. They had left from Mangalore in two batches on June 5 and 7.

Sources from Nirmala Travels told the media that the tourists do not find any difficulties with regard to food and other requirements. "Military troupes dropping food items, but our passengers were provided with sufficient food and they do not face difficulties. The team members are unable to re-charge their mobiles due to lack of power supply. They depend on generator sets to recharge their mobile phones," sources said adding that they are in contact with relatives.

Nirmala Travels director Nirmala C Kamath told the media that the military troupes have made arrangements to airlift pilgrims from Gowrikund using helicopter. "A temporary hele-pad has been developed about three kilometres away from Gowrikund. All our passengers will be airlifted to safe place and will be able to commence their return journey within a day or two," she added.