Bangalore, June 28, 2013: Evacuation of stranded pilgrims from Badrinath area continued for the second day with 25 pilgrims from Karnataka being airlifted on Thursday.

The pilgrims, who have been stranded in Badrinath for over 10 days now, have been airlifted to Joshimath and Gouchar from where they are being brought to Dehradun by road. “As road connectivity is clear between these towns, they are being brought by road,” said Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Internal Security) Hemanth Nimbalkar, who is part of the rescue monitoring team from the State.

With 45 pilgrims from the State rescued from Badrinath over the last two days, he said, less than 150 pilgrims were left to be evacuated.

“If the weather permits, all of them can be evacuated over the next three days,” he said, and added that senior citizens, women and children were being evacuated on priority.

Minister for Infrastructure Development Santhosh Lad has remained in Badarinath, monitoring the rescue of pilgrims.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, told reporters on Thursday that of the 1,442 pilgrims from the State, 955 had returned and the remaining would be brought back soon.

Speaking at the ‘Meet the Press’ organised by Press Club of Bangalore, the Chief Minister termed the Uttarakhand floods as a national calamity, and appealed to people to donate for the relief fund.

Contribution

Canara Bank will donate Rs. 1 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund of Uttarakhand while the bank’s employees will contribute one day’s salary, amounting to over Rs. 6 crore, to the fund.

Source: The Hindu, DT. June 28, 2013.