Special Punjab team reaches Joshimath; likely to finish evacuation work by Monday

A special team deputed by the Punjab Government for the evacuation of pilgrims stranded at Gobind Ghat and Gobind Dham has started rescue operations on Sunday.“All the members of the team are in touch with pilgrims at Gurdwara Sahib in Joshi Math,” said the team head and senior officer AS Miglani.

He said that the entire work of evacuation of pilgrims, who were stuck up at Gobind Dham after the bridge between Gobind Ghat and Gobind Dham washed away due to heavy rain, had now been repaired by the local Army and the pilgrims in small groups of two-three persons were escorted by the Army personnel to cross the bridge and have been brought back safely at Gobind Ghat.

Miglani said that Punjab Roadways buses could not reach Joshi Math as they were stuck up in the way near Rishikesh due to several landslides on the way. “Now, small buses would be arranged by the State Transport Department to bring back the stranded pilgrims enroute to Hemkund Sahib to Punjab safely,” he said.These mini buses were expected to reach at Joshi Math by Monday afternoon from where these pilgrims would be sent back to Punjab, he said adding that all pilgrims were being provided food in Gurdwaras at Joshi Math and Gobind Ghat.