RISHIKESH/CHANDIGARH, June 25, 2013: The Rescue and Relief Operations initiated by Punjab Government for saving thousands of lives stranded at Sri Hemkunt Sahib, Badrinath and Kedarnath due to massive flash floods in Uttrakhand is on the edge of completion as the stranded pilgrims have been safely evacuated from Joshi Matth too, who had been earlier evacuated from Sri Hemkunt Sahib and Badrinath.

According to the latest updates, more than 3000 Pilgrims evacuated from Joshi Math today morning were presently stranded at Nadrasu Gurdwara and it was hoped that they would be brought to the base relief camp of Punjab Government at Gurdwara in Rishikesh by Wednesday evening. These stranded pilgrims were expected to reach at Rishikesh today afternoon by due to major landslides between Srinagar and Chamoli Highways, the ongoing rescue operations were hampered.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was in regular touch with both the teams deputed at Rishikesh and Joshi Matth and he has been updated that 6300 pilgrims had arrived Punjab in State transport buses so far. He assured of all support and assistance to the Uttarakhand government till the entire rescue and rehabilitation operations were over. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was also keeping close tab on the situation and was in constant touch with concerned officers overseeing the rescue operations in Uttarakhand.

Briefing the about the rescue and relief operations, A. Venu Prasad, Secretary Housing, Punjab, who was here to oversee the entire operations, said that all the Pilgrims were well at Gurdwara Nadrasu, where all needful material including eatables, medical aids, clothes, langar etc. were being provided to them and they were in high morale. He said that it was expected that all evacuated Pilgrims would reach at Rishikesh by tomorrow evening. He said that Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was working to make the plying of vehicle feasible, which is expected to be completed by Wednesday morning. He said that by tomorrow evening all Pilgrims would be dispatched to their respective destination in Punjab in the buses of Punjab Roadways, PRTC, Punjab Police and the other private buses hired by Punjab Government. He said that more than 50 buses were on the way to Rishikesh, which were awaiting green signal from the concerned authorities from Nadrasu Gurdwara.

Giving details about the Pilgrims stranded at Badrinath, Venu Prasad said that the choppers were in service to evacuate the pilgrims struck there. He said that now Badrinath is the focus of Punjab Government’s rescue teams and the chopper of Punjab Government today brought more than 113 Pilgrims to Joshi Matth under the command of Army authorities. He said that Punjab Government has also dispatched a special and dedicated team of trekkers to Badrinath for the facilitation of rescue teams. He said that the team was comprised of a Senior Civil Officer, a DSP and 8 other personnel of Punjab Government having a fleet of vehicle and an ambulance. He said that the team would stay there till the completion of rescue operations.

Venu Prasad said that more than 700kg of eatable goods including dry fruits, biscuits, milk bags, packed foods etc have been sent in a chopper for the pilgrims stranded at Badrinath. He said that Pilgrims were facing the severe problems in walking due to bad weathers so the Punjab Government has also sent 100kg ‘Manila Rope’ for trekking, which would be tied between the mountains.

Expressing satisfaction on the ongoing rescue and relief operations, Prasad said that Punjab Government was doing its best to provide the needful facilities to the stranded pilgrims. He said that some of the Pilgrims evacuated from Joshi Matth was facing serious medical problems; out of them some were referred to various neighbouring hospitals while a lady and one other patient have been dispatched to their residences in Punjab in Ambulances of Punjab Government.

Meanwhile a Medical Team comprising of a Senior Surgeon, a medicine specialist and other staff was landed at Rishikesh from Joshi Math. They said that more than 1500 Pilgrims facing various minor medical problems were checked up while more than 15 successful operations were conducted in emergency cases. 

Source: The Times of India, DT. June 25, 2013.