New Delhi, June 26, 2013: Indifference and human greed reared its ugly head in the aftermath of the flash floods witnessed in Uttarakhand. Rice, normally priced at Rs. 20 per kg, was sold for Rs. 1,000 per kg in Pandukeshwar.

‘Faith marred’

Himanshu Srivastava, whose parents – Pradeep and Manorama – had left for Badrinath with the hope of receiving divine blessings, said “what they received instead has marred their faith in human beings”.

On their way to Badrinath, the Meerut-based couple were stranded at Pandukeshwar due to bad weather. Pandukeshwar is 20-25 km shy of the pilgrimage site. “When they realised the gravity of the situation, they decided not to complete their journey and return. But what they were not ready for, was the difficulties that came their way,” said Himanshu.

 “For 30 hours my parents remained confined to the bus they were travelling in. Food was scarce; whatever my parents had, they had to make do with it. The authorities did not offer any help. Everybody was on their own,” he said.

With no communication from his elderly parents – both heart patients – for three days, Himanshu was worried to death about how and where they were.

He said: “A hotel of at least five floors was destroyed in front of my father’s eyes.” The next two days were spent in a temple in the area with other harried survivors and the other four days in an ashram.

The survivors were only calmed once the Army came onto the scene.

“No doubt they were doing their jobs, but they treated each and every person stuck there like their own family member. The Army has definitely shone through and is the real hero here,” said a grateful Himanshu.

The couple finally reached Joshimath in an Army helicopter and from there a bus brought them back home to their anxious family.

Source: The Hindu, DT. June 26, 2013.