300 from Tamil Nadu stranded
Chennai: Nearly 300 Tamil Nadu pilgrims, including 106 women, who were on Kedarnath yatra are believed to be stranded in flood-affected areas in Uttarakhand, according to official sources.
Of the stranded pilgrims, 52 are from Chennai and neighbouring areas while others are from Villupuram and Kumbakonam. Police are trying to find out the whereabouts of other groups as well. The pilgrims from Chennai have been stranded near Haridwar without sufficient water and food for the past three days due to the flash floods and landslides.
The pilgrims from Saidapet, Guduvanchery and Kundrathur areas in Chennai were on a trip to Badrinath temple, when they got stuck near Nanda Prayag on Monday.
The pilgrims’ relatives are worried about the state of their kin as most of the passengesrs are above 50 years of age. Jaya Prakash of Saidapet said that he was restless until he got confirmation that his mother, ThamaraiKanni, 63 and other relatives are safe.
According to Sivapragasam, one of the stranded pilgrims, the group has reached Rudraprayag. They had been managing with the limited food available with them. Last night, the group was provided shelter by the people of the village, Gauchar. 'We have already cancelled our trip to Badrinath. This was totally unexpected and it is impossible to continue the journey,” said another pilgrim.
Sivapragasam said that they are apprehensive as they have not received any communication from the government. “We were supposed to travel from Delhi to Chennai on Tuesday. We are not sure when we will be reaching New Delhi. We appeal to the government that travel arrangements be made for our return to Chennai,” he said.
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