The police have gained some clues related to the eight pilgrims from Punjab missing since undertaking the journey to Hemkund Sahib here. The authorities conducted search for the missing men on Friday at various locations. The police and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Force personnel conducted a search operation from Taya bridge to Vishnuprayag along the banks of the Alaknanda river.
According to sources, the police found some clues believed to be linked to the missing persons. Near the Taya bridge on the banks of the Alaknanda, the police found a turban along with a logo and visor of the Innova four-wheeler believed to be the one in which the missing men were travelling. The police showed these items to the family members of the missing persons who went back to Punjab after viewing these.
Amritsar (Punjab) resident luvpreet lodged a report in the Govindghat police station on July 11 stating that eight persons including two non resident Indians who had arrived here for the Hemkund Sahib yatra in an Innova numbered PB- 06AB 5472 on July 3 and after staying at Hemkund Sahib on July 4 and 5, they had returned to Govindghat on July 6. On that day the driver Manga Singh had telephoned his family members telling them that the group was on its way back to home. Since that day the whereabouts of the group of eight have been unknown. Based on the police report lodged, the police, ITBP personnel and family members of the missing men conducted a search operation on both banks of the Alaknanda river here on Friday. The police found turban along with a logo and visor from the Innova, considering which the authorities believe that the vehicle must have met with an accident. The family members of the missing men were shown these items, after which they left for Amritsar on Friday afternoon. Sources state that due to the increased level of water in the Alaknanda river, no other signs of the missing persons or their vehicle have been spotted yet. The Govindghat police station in charge Pradeep Rathor said that the search will continue till a clue is found regarding the whereabouts of the missing pilgrims. Those reported as missing have been named as Kulbir Singh, Harkeval Singh, Pala Singh, Gaur Singh, Jasvir Singh, Ikbal Singh, Manga Singh and Paramjit Singh, all residents of Amritsar in Punjab.