Hyderabad, June 25, 2013: The number of missing pilgrims on the Char Dham yatra from Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district is going up by the day.

According to the district administration, over 776 pilgrims from the capital are still stranded at different places in Uttarakhand, while Ranga Reddy district officials said five more pilgrims from the district were added to the missing pilgrims’ list of 89 and claimed that as many as 44 pilgrims had returned to the district on Sunday and Monday by different trains.

Missing kin

Dr. Jwala Chaitanya from Narayanguda said his three relatives from Masab Tank had been missing since June 16. “Last time they spoke to us was from Badrinath on June 16, and since then there has been no communication from them,” said Dr. Chaitanya.

Meanwhile, the railway authorities said several pilgrims had arrived in the capital by A.P. Sampark Kranthi Express, Dakshin Express and Karnataka Express trains.

Special coaches

A South Central Railway spokesperson said that five extra coaches were attached to the three trains.

He added that nearly 200 pilgrims from across the State had returned.

Source: The Hindu, DT. June 25, 2013.