Twelve family members of a Mohali-based priest died in Uttrakhand devastation when all of them had gone for the ‘Chaar Dham Yatra’ to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badarinath and Kedarnath along with their four family friends, who are still missing.
Harish Monga, president of ‘Sri Vaishno Mata Mandir Committee, Mohali, said the contingent of 16 people including 12 members of Pandit Sham lal Dabral (35) family from Mohali and Harinand’s family including his wife, Prabha Devi, his elder brother, Jagdish Bhatt, and Jagdish’s wife, Rukmani Devi from Chandigarh, all left together for Uttarakhand on June 10, and could not return.
“Officials of Uttarakhand and other sources have confirmed that all the family members, including Shyam lal himself, his two kids, his mother, father, his two brothers, their wives and children had been washed away at Rambana area. So far only Sham lal’s wife Sashi Dabral has been rescued and is yet to overcome the mental trauma due to the devastation and has been admitted at a Rishikesh Hospital for further treatment,” added Monga. The temple management has decided to help the wife of the deceased financially.
Rajender Prsad, another priest at the temple and close friend of Shyam lal, said the priest came to the Mohali temple 12 years ago in 2001, when he was young. “He got married here then had kids, 12 years old Swati Dabral and 10 years old Nitin Dabral, who studied at the local Gem Public School,” he said, wiping his tears.
Monga said after leaving Chandigarh, they first went to Gangotri and from there they went to Kedarnath. After they reached Kedarnath, the temple management could not establish any contact with them. “All efforts made by us since June 15 went in vain,” he said.
Sri Vaishno Mata Mandir Committee on Monday organised a condolence meeting and decided to hand over Rs1.5 lakh to the aggrieved family.