Tributes paid to Kedarnath flash flood victims

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 16

Various political, social and religious organisations here today paid tributes to pilgrims, tourists and local people, who died in flash floods in the Kedarnath valley on June 16 and 17 in 2013.

At the Prem Nagar ashram Ganga ghat, milk was offered to the Ganga and prayers were performed for the peace to the souls of disaster victims.

BJP youth wing activists paid tributes to the disaster victims at the Ganga ghat. General secretary of the BJP youth wing Vidit Sharma said three years had passed since the disaster took place in which more than 5,000 persons lost their lives but the state was still to fully recover from its impact.

Citing Indore-based Kailash Joshi, who lost his family members and relatives in the 2013 deluge, Sharma said affected people such as Kailash were still searching for their near and dear ones in Uttarakhand.

Divisional president Anirudh Bhati paying tribute said they pray to the almighty for His blessing and giving strength to the bereaved families. Ward councillor Vandana Gupta and divisional vice-president Deepak Nath Goswami said people were still fearful and recall the horrors of flash floods.

“We pray to deity Ganga to provide salvation and peace to the departed souls. Hope, such a catastrophe doesn’t recur and the local ecology is not disturbed due to precautionary measures,” said local resident Kamini Sadana.