Most of the people rescued from Uttarakhand, are celebrating their return after close encounter with death but a son returned empty-handed to Chandigarh after spending a week in search of his missing parents in the hills.
Tears rolled down the cheeks of Sanjay Kumar and voice got choked due to the pain of losing his parents. Only words came out was “mai apne ma-baap ko kandha bhi nahi de sakha” (I could not even bid farewell to my parents).
Sanjay owns a grocery shop in ludhiana and hails from Gorakhpur in UP. He arrived at the Sector 43 ISBT here from the flood hit Uttarakhand on Friday after failing to locate his parents.
On June 3, his father Omkarnath and mother Jagdamba Devi left for the pilgrimage from Gorakhpur to Uttarakhand. “They were happy for the pilgrimage. They were supposed to stay in ludhiana with me after return," said Sanjay.
He had a talk with his parents on June 14, but after that he lost all connection with them. The group with whom Sanjay's s parents were travelling, informed him that till June 16 they were in the group. Subsequently, they got left behind in the melee following the rains.
On June 22, when he could not contact them, Sanjay decided to go there to search for his parents. He looked for them everywhere-- in hospitals and relief camps but could not find them. "I could not even perform their last rites. Nothing could be more tragic," he said, with tears rolling down his eyes. The only hope which he now has is of miracle.
Mayor announces Rs1 cr relief fund
The Mayor of Chandigarh on Friday announced to release Rs1 crore for the relief and rehabilitation in flood-hit Uttrakhand. The decision by Mayor Subhash Chawla was taken today during the 194th house meeting with the City councilors at Municipal Corporation. The councilors of Chandigarh, also decided to voluntarily donate their one month salary for the relief work in Uttarakhand.