Uttarakhand tragedy: Kin of stranded flood victims demand stepping up rescue ops

KOTA: The kin of pilgrims and tourists affected by calamitous floods in Uttarakhand, demand that the Centre must step up relief operations by pressing in more helicopters to rescue those still stranded near Kedarnath.

Over 350 pilgrims from Jhalawar, Baran, Bundi and Kota of Hadouti region are reported to be trapped at various places near Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand.

"Where is our national unity and integrity and where were our richest families in the time of national disaster," asked a local congress leader and social activist, Modulal Verma said.

A resident of Khedla village in Bundi district, Rajendra Prajapat, whose aging parents along with 15 others have been stranded in Bharuchatti area of Kedarnath for past six days, said that he was told by his father over the phone that they are still stranded with several others in the hill state.

Army personnel have reached with food and drinking water supply, he informed, added they are still trapped there due to insufficient number of choppers deployed in rescue operation.

"Do we have only 45 to 55 choppers in the hour of national tragedy? What would happen if the rains resume again as predicted?" Rajendra candidly raised concerns.

Radhayshayam Nama, another kin of a stranded pilgrim from Nainwa area of the district said his family members called last evening and informed they have been trapped in Jankichatti near Yamunotri and army personnel are landing just to assure that they would soon be flown to safer places.

Nama demanded that the corporate and industrial sector must also come forward to extend a helping hand to rescue those affected in the tragedy.