VILLUPURAM, June 22, 2013: L.R. Babu (55), who formed part of the 37 pilgrims who left Villupuram for Uttarakhand, is said to have been washed away in the flash floods at a place between Badrinath and Kedarnath. His fate is unknown.

Another woman pilgrim Vijayalakshmi, a resident of Kamarajar Street in Villupuram, reportedly died of unknown causes. It was surmised that the death could have occurred owing to ill health arising out of inclement weather, trying conditions in the tough terrains and starvation.

It may be noted that Babu had organised the tour programme. He along with his younger son Madanraj and wife Latha accompanied the pilgrims. It is learnt that on Thursday Madanraj phoned up his elder brother Yuvaraj to convey the message that their father was washed away. Both Ms. Latha and Madanraj made futile attempt to rescue Babu. It is stated that 22 members of the group are staying at one place, and the whereabouts of 13 others are not known.

Meanwhile, District Collector V. Sampath has set up a control room in the Collectorate to both gather and disseminate information about the pilgrims round-the-clock.

The Collector has stated in a release that if any of the relatives of the pilgrims currently stranded in Uttarakhand gets any information about their whereabouts and contact numbers or need any help they could contact the control room over the landlines 04146—222470 and 222489.

Source: The Hindu