AHMEDABAD: Sudarshan Iyengar, vice chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapeeth, has been stranded at Pandukeshwar near Joshimath for the past three days.

Iyenger had started off on the Chardham pilgrimage with his mother and other family members. "We were told that if we go six kilometers north of the spot, we might get government vehicles to reach home. However, due to my mother's health, we have decided to stay back till the situation improves a bit as we have got accommodation and amenities here. Things are improving as pilgrims are being shifted towards Badrinath by the administration. We have also heard news of airlifting from Joshimath," he said.

The Inani family, in Nadiad, are praying fervently for safety of their relatives. The family has 40 persons stranded.

Jinesh Inani told TOI that the family members had started off for the tour on June 6 and had reached to Kedarnath on June 14. "We got the last call on June 15 where they said that things were bad. Till now, we haven't been able to connect with them," he said.

Others like Harshad Shah from Naranpura and Prakash Joshi from Satellite are constantly in touch with the helpline and government agencies to ascertain safety of their family members stranded in Badrinath and Kedarnath respectively. "Things are not improving for Amarnath pilgrims either. We have come back to our camp at Budhi on way to Gunji. As per the organizers, the decision over the onwards journey will be taken after assessing the weather conditions," said Payal Patel, a pilgrim from Ahmedabad.