Nearly 4,700 pilgrims from Punjab, stranded in flash floods, have been rescued so far from Kedarnath, Badrinath and Govind Ghat in Uttarakhand safely to their respective destination across the State.
Out of 95 buses deployed by the Punjab Government - 71 of Punjab Roadways and 24 of Punjab Police - have transported around 4,700 pilgrims from Uttarakhand to Punjab at different headquarters, from where they were received by the Deputy Commissioners concerned and sent to their homes directly in private taxis at State Administration’s expense, as per the official Press statement.
As many as 60 mini-buses of the Punjab Police, dispatched from Rishikesh to Joshi Muth on Saturday, and another 36 mini-buses or trax vehicles were pressed into service to Joshi Muth on Sunday. Out of that, six mini-buses of Punjab Police had reached Rishikesh from Joshi Muth and another 23 mini-buses carrying about 450 passengers were on the way from Joshi Muth to Rishikesh till the filling of the news report.
Official statement stated that these vehicles were likely to be slightly delayed due to a blockade following the landslide between Chamoli and Srinagar and subsequently they were following an alternate route. As per available information at 5 pm on Sunday, no pilgrim was awaiting evacuation, neither at Joshi Muth and nor any transportation from Rishikesh.
Besides, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who also holds the Home portfolio, has directed the state Director General of Police (DGP) to immediately send two special platoons comprising 60 policemen, 40 drivers and 16 others for help, under the DIG Khubi Ram and Gautam Cheema to evacuate pilgrims stranded beyond Joshi Muth.
These platoons would also carry ambulances and 15 Xylo or Scorpio and two canters besides 10 mountaineering, search and rescue trained personnel. Sukhbir has also asked the DGP to extend all possible help and cooperation to the Civil and Army authorities for the safe evacuation of the pilgrims trapped in Uttarakhand on the priority. Sukhbir categorically said that the State Government would leave no stone unturned until each and every pilgrim was safely brought from Uttarakhand to Punjab.
The Punjab Government has undertaken all out efforts to ensure smooth relief and rescue operations on the directions of the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is personally reviewing the progress of the entire relief and rehabilitation process and was in constant touch with the Civil and Army authorities in Uttarakhand.
Already, the State Government has stationed two teams comprising secretary housing and urban development A Venu Prasad, Director State Transport Sumer Singh Gurjar, DIG Khubi Ram and Commandant Rakesh Kaushal at Rishikesh. Another team consists of DGSE Kahan Singh Pannu, MD Punjab State Cooperative Bank Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, besides a DSP and Inspector who joined them on Saturday at Joshimath. These teams were keeping Badal updated from time-to-time.
Besides, Punjab Government had also hired the services of private helicopter to bring out the pilgrims from Uttarakhand valley and the same was carrying out evacuation operations in full swing under the command of Army authorities till the receipt of last reports. The helicopter has so far made 66 sorties resulting in the evacuation of 212 passengers besides sending more than 400 kg of relief material, food and water and 100 kg of rope to cross over the river.
Highly appreciating the role of Punjab Police in this hour of crisis, Badal asked the police personnel to work with far more missionary zeal in tandem with civil administration to mitigate the sufferings of the pilgrims who were still trapped there in Uttarakhand. As many as 10 ambulances of the Punjab Health Department besides two of Punjab Police equipped with doctors and paramedics had reached Rishikesh. Of them five have been stationed at Rishikesh and the rest has been pressed into service at Srinagar, Chamoli and Joshi Muth to render medical rendered medical aid to the pilgrims, who needed such assistance.