Gujarat swings into action

The day after Narendra Modi visited Delhi, the state government swung into action on Wednesday to assist thousands of Gujarati pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand. While the death of two pilgrims has been confirmed so far, DNA has also received news about some more having lost their lives.

Government spokesman and health minister Nitin Patel on Wednesday said the government was sending a team of IAS and IPS officers to ensure the safe return of Gujaratis from the Chardham Yatra in the flood-ravaged state.

“The state government is in constant touch with the Uttarakhand government to help stranded pilgrims from Gujarat and ensure their safe return. Two-minute silence was observed at a meeting of the state cabinet to pay tribute to those who lost their lives to nature’s fury,” said Patel.

Modi spoke to his counterpart in Uttarakhand and promised all help to the state gripped by natural calamity. He has even sent a cheque of Rs2 crore from the CM’s relief fund to Uttarakhand as aid.

A team, led by relief commissioner Punamchand Parmar and including Gujarat Urban Development Company managing director Ashwani Kumar, IAS officer Sandip Kumar, senior IPS officer T S Bisht and additional collector Bipin Bhatt, will be leaving for Uttarakhand on Thursday. “The team will work with the local administration to help Gujarati pilgrims get food and medical assistance on their return journey to Gujarat,” said Patel.

Moreover, the government is trying to send a special train to bring back victims while details of stranded Gujarati tourists are being collected by each district collector. It has already started a helpline — 079 2325 1902 — for inquiry of pilgrims.

Besides, Modi has written to railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge asking him to arrange for special trains and extra coaches on the Dehradun-Haridwar-Delhi on an emergency basis for Gujarati pilgrims and that they should be allowed free travel and food be provided to them as they have lost all their belongings on the tour. Most of them have even lost money and rail tickets in the flood.

Meanwhile, the state control room has confirmed the deaths of Dhirubhai Patel, a state government official from Gandhinagar, and Gita Ashok Panchal near Gaurikund in Chamoli district.

Again, Maninagar residents, 52-year-olds Ashok and Bharti Gajjar, also known as the ‘Mistry’ couple, have gone missing. The couple’s daughter-in-law, Hemali Gajjar, said her in-laws had last called up from Gaurikund on Saturday. However, on Wednesday morning, Hemali and her family were shocked to hear that Ashok was dead whereas his wife could not be traced. A friend, among the 11 pilgrims who survived in the group of 13, had identified the body. So, the hunt is on for Bharti as the family kept their fingers crossed to find her alive.