Due to the flash floods in Uttarakhand, over 100 Odia pilgrims are stranded in different cut-off areas of that State. The Odisha Government is making all possible efforts for safe return of the pilgrims, officials here said.
The State Government has opened a round-the-clock control room at the Odisha Bhawan in New Delhi to assist the family members of the victims.
They can contact the helpline nos 011-24679201, 24679202, 24679203, 24679204 (Odisha Bhavan) and 0135-2710334 and 2710335 (Uttarakhand), according to official sources.
State Home Secretary UN Behera said the State’s Joint Resident Commissioner of Odisha in New Delhi has left with a team for Uttarakhand. Resident Commissioner of Odisha Bipin Saxena has been assigned with the overall responsibility. “We are in touch with Uttarakhand administration and taking all possible steps for rescue of Odias,” said Behera.
Meanwhile, the State Government has sought assistance of its Uttarakhand counterpart to ensure safe return of Odias up to Rishikesh so that the Odisha Bhavan would make efforts to bring them back to Delhi from Risikesh, official sources said.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a contribution of Rs 5 crore for relief works in Uttarakhand. “The amount will be given from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.