'Odia pilgrims stranded near Badrinath are safe'

Bhubaneswar/Berhampur: All 42 pilgrims from Ganjam district, who had been stranded due to heavy snowfall while returning from Badrinath in Uttarakhand, are safe and on their way to plainland in a bus.

The pilgrims - most senior citizens and 19 of them women - are from Bhanjanagar and its surrounding areas. Snowfall had disrupted road communication, which led them to take shelter at a dharamshala. Ganjam collector Vijay Amruta Kulange, had been in touch with the district administration at Uttarakhand's Chamoli to ensure the safe return of the pilgrims.

"The roads were cleared after weather conditions improved on Sunday morning. Since the 42 were without food for the last 24 hours, we have sent Rs 20,000 to Chamoli administration to arrange food and water for them immediately," said Kulange. After news reports came about the stranded Odia pilgrims, the state government on Sunday requested the Uttarakhand government to provide necessary support to the pilgrims. Joint relief commissioner Prabhat Mohapatra also wrote to Chamoli district collector requesting help to the stranded pilgrims. Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan also spoke to Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.

"Thank you @dpradhanbjp ji for your call regarding 40 Odisha pilgrims visiting Uttarakhand for Char dhaam Yatra; I have issued the orders for safe evacuation of all the pilgrims. We will take steps to ensure safety & security of everyone & will keep you informed of the development," Rawat tweeted responding to Dharmendra's request. Family members of the stranded pilgrims said they were still worried. "When I spoke to my aged parents on Saturday night they had been without food and water for a while," said Sundhir Kumar Prusty. His father Bijay Kumar Prusty (67) and mother Shyamali (64) had gone to Badrinath on October 26 with a local tour operator.