Scores of panic-stricken pilgrims from Karnataka, who witnessed landslides metres away from them, walked several kilometres braving heavy rain in unpredictable weather for two days, heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday after they reached New Delhi. Contact with several other pilgrims in flood affected Uttarakhand is yet to be established.
Recounting their travails, Mani Iyer from Chamarajnagar said that 51 of them were travelling in two mini buses to Badrinath on Thursday when they saw landslides and rocks falling when they were about six kilometres from the town.
“A little before noon, rocks fell on our bus. For about 24 hours, we were stranded in the bus. The next day, we walked for more than six kilometres and reached a helipad.”
Mr Iyer said, “We decided to prioritise and sent eight of the elderly and women in the helicopter. They were dropped off at Joshimath. The rest walked amidst rain and debris. We got a vehicle in-between and reached Joshimath where we halted overnight,” he said. Mr Iyer said that although they had seen and heard of the Uttarakhand floods, they were not prepared as they had been told that there would be no rains.
Revanna Siddiah (60) from Sira said that they headed to Badrinath after visiting Varanasi and Triveni Sangam. “Although we were safe, the lack of communication and the unpredictable weather was a matter of concern,” he said. On Sunday, sitting in Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, he said, “When we reached Delhi, we felt that we had defied death. It was a life changing experience for us.”
Rajkumar Khatri, Principal Secretary, Revenue department (Disaster Management, Bhoomi and urban property ownership records project) said that all the people from the State are safe. The State government is in touch with officials from Uttarakhand as well as officials from Karnataka Bhavan to ensure the safe return of pilgrims and tourists.
Another 180 people are yet to reach New Delhi with 130 of them expected to reach Haridwar on Sunday night. Officials were unable to make contact with the rest till Sunday night.The four pilgrims who reached the city by flight are Chamarajnagar municipal councillor Gangesh Deekshit, his wife Vanaja Deekshit, Chamundeshwari temple chief priest Shashishekar Deekshit and Revanasiddaiah, a resident of Sira taluk. Shashishekar Deekshit said that they had planned a trip after hearing of the 2013 floods in Uttarakhand.
