The Punjab Government on Saturday dispatched a rescue team to oversee the evacuation of the pilgrims stranded at Sri Hemkunt Sahib in Uttarakhand due to heavy rains and reported damage to bridges, roads and others.A spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that as per the orders issued by State Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal, Co-operative Societies Registrar Arunjit Singh Miglani has been asked to head the team to oversee the evacuation of the stranded pilgrims.Miglani would obtain requisite security personnel from ADGP (Security), a Medical team from Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare and required number of buses from Principal Secretary Transport.
He has been directed to liaise with the Government of Uttrakhand and station himself at Chamoli or Joshimath with immediate effect.Miglani would report the progress of evacuation to Punjab Civil Control Room on a daily basis. Sub Divisional Magistrate, SAS Nagar (Mohali) lakhmir Singh has also been asked to accompany Miglani for the rescue operations.Residents of Punjab who had gone on a pilgrimage to Sri Hemkunt Sahib (Uttrakhand) have got stranded due to heavy rains and reported damage to bridges and roads etc.
Describing the scourge of floods in Uttarakhand as a National tragedy, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal assured full and immediate help from the State Government to all those affected by nature's fury regardless of their respective states or their destination of pilgrimage.He hoped that all the pilgrims would soon be brought back to their homes safe and sound. Badal mentioned that the main objective of the Punjab Government at this critical hour was to expedite the rescue operation so that all the pilgrims stuck at Gobind Dham and other nearby places must be evacuated to safe places and further be brought back to their homes safely.He prayed the Almighty for the safety of all the people who were stranded in Uttarakhand.