Hyderabad, June 27, 2013: Tales of discrimination against the Telugus, shoddy relief and rehabilitation and non-responsive helplines of the Uttarakhand government came forth from the pilgrims who landed here in the two chartered flights on Wednesday night.

Most of the returning pilgrims either lost their loved ones or had no clue about the missing members of their respective groups.

Ä vast majority of the pilgrims were bitter about the step-motherly treatment towards the non-Hindi speaking people.

They recalled being pulled out of choppers and the relief centres denying them immediate evacuations and food. “If you can’t speak Hindi there is none to care,” was the common refrain. Uma Maheswar Rao from Gudivada informs that some of his group members were stranded in Gangotri awaiting rescue.

But, others had stories of missing people. “We hail from Changnatipadu village near Vijayawada and of the 19 members, two got washed away in front of our eyes and six are still missing,” says M. Satyavati on a wheelchair.

Confusion

K. K. Vittal Rao, resident of Nagole, Bandlaguda, was part of a 100-member group from the city and Nizamabad, says that it was hell at Joshimath where they were stuck for nine long days without proper food and shelter.

“There was no communication and confusion abound all round. Twenty persons are missing from our group,” he claims.

It was poignant to see a few kith and kin of the missing pilgrims enquiring the whereabouts of their loved ones showing photos on mobile phones. Alas, most had to return home disappointed.

Source: The Hindu, DT. June 27, 2013.