Over 2,400 pilgrims from AP stranded in Uttarakhand

Hyderabad, June 22 : The State Government on Saturday informed that as many as 2,433 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh are stranded in the flood-hit Uttarakhand.

Following reports in the media about the plight of AP Pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand, the District Collectors were asked to provide details of pilgrims form their district. According to their reports as many as 784 pilgrims are from Hyderabad followed by Visakhapatnam (661), West Godavari (203), Krishna (146), Srikakulam (91), YSR Kadapa (89), East Godavari (80), Guntur (76), Kurnool (71), SPS Nellore (54), Ananthapur (52), Rangareddy (27), Medak (25), Nalgonda (22), Chittoor (21), Nizamabad (18), Warangal (15), Vizianagaram (12) and 11 each from Karimnagar and Prakasam districts.

As per Instructions of Chief Secretary a control Room is opened in AP Bhavan and the Telephone Number (011-23384188(D), 011-23782644 (D), 011-23382031 Extn 438) etc., of the Control Room given wide Publicity. The Resident Commissioner, AP Bhavan, posted required number of personnel round-the-clock. Uttarakhand Helpline 0135-2714334/ 2714335.

Teams dispatched from AP Bhawan are positioned are G. Rama Kotaiah (09810981293) at District Magistrate office, Dehradun; M.V.S. Rama Rao (09871990081) at Dehradun Airport; Digabar Bist (09999989786) & Netar Singh (09818582199) at Central Control Room, Dehradun.

The Resident Commissioner, AP Bhavan, has taken immediate steps to dispatch two teams to open help Desks at Dehradun to help / guide / Facilitate the Movement of stranded pilgrims of Andhra Pradesh to Delhi and onwards to their respective destinations. This is done in liaison with the southern Travels / Rao Travels and other local Tour Operators whose services have been availed by the pilgrims from AP. The Tour Operators should be instructed to provide required number of vehicles, etc. from Dehradum / Delhi, etc to quickly move the evacuated pilgrims.

In order to attend the calls from the relatives of pilgrims Revenue (DM) Department Control Room was opened in the office with the telephone number 040-23451043.

So far control room/ CDM & EOPS/ CDM & EOPS Peshi have received 442 calls ( 19.6.2013 – 257 calls, 20.6.2013 – 109 call, 21.6.2013 – 48 calls and 22.6.2013 – 28 calls upto 5.30 PM) from relatives of stranded pilgrims. Telephone Nos. of AP Bhavan helpline/Uttarakhand helpline were provided to the callers while assuring them that Government was taking all relief measures with help of GoI/Army/NDMA/NDRF.

The Resident Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh was requested to arrange for providing accommodation, food, medicines and medical facilities, transport at AP Bhavan to all the pilgrims from AP who are arriving at Delhi from Uttarakhand. Special Officer, Dehra Dun, Uttarkhand (Shri Sanjay Kumar) & Resident Commissioner, A.P. Bhavan, New Delhi are also authorised to incur expenditure and make adequate transport arrangements for all the stranded pilgrims/travellers from Andhra Pradesh who are air lifted/rescued/ etc., from the Uttarkhand State/ Hills/ Haridwar/ Other places in Uttarkhand to A.P. Bhavan, New Delhi/ New Delhi including provision for other incidental expenses etc.

Ramesh PA to Sri Bhandaru Dathathreya, Ex-MP has informed that Thakar Si Soni (contact No.9029642841 and 3 other members of Hyderabad were stranded at Kharsali, Uttara khasi and requested to trace out them and provide transport, food and water. Accordingly, Sanjay Kumar, Special Officer, Dehra Dun, Uttarkhand, Resident Commissioner, A.P. Bhavan, New Delhi and Chief Secretary to Uttarkhand were requested to provide the same to the above pilgrims.

The District Collectors of Visakhapatnam, West Godavari, Krishna, Srikakulam, YSR Kadapa, East Godavari, Guntur, Kurnool, SPS Nellore, Ananthapur, Rangareddy, Medak, Nalgonda, Chittoor, Nizamabad, Warangal, Vizianagaram, Karimnagar and Prakasam were requested to furnish details of number of pilgrims return to their respective places daily before 3.00 PM till the last pilgrim of their District returned.

M.V.S.Rama Rao of A.P. Bhavan, New Delhi, Mobile Team Member at Haridwar informed that 30 pilgrims of Gudiwada, Krishna District are stayed at Andhra Ashramam, Rishikesh and they have stated that 15 members of Gudiwada were missed/ not traced out and hence they refused to returned to A.P. Bhavan, New Delhi without information about 15 members who were missed. He also informed that 40 pilgrims of Srikakulam District will be reaching Rishikesh from Kedarinadh Hills by today evening.

The Resident Commissioner, A.P.Bhavan, New Delhi has informed that 300 pilgrims have reached A.P.Bhavan since yesterday night. Arrangements are being made for transportation of 275 pilgrims to different parts of Andhra Pradesh by train/additional coaches arranged by Ministry of Railways. Another 100 pilgrims are expected to reach A.P. Bhavan to night. 12 persons from Andhra Pradesh have been evacuated by helicopter and another 20 persons have been rescued by road. He has also informed that four teams (10 people) were sent to Dehradun and Haridwar to extend assistance to the pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh who is stranded due to heavy rains/floods and to coordinate with the Uttarakhand State Authorities for evacuation of stranded people. INN