Waiting anxiously for dear ones

Even as rescue operations were expedited in Uttarakhand, families back home have been anxiously waiting for their loved ones to return. While some tourists are expected to arrive in Ahmedabad on Thursday, others have already reached the flood-ravaged state to look for their dear ones.

Amdavadi Bharat Suthar landed at Dehradun on Thursday to bring back his sister and her family. “I got to know that my sister is at Guptakashi Hospital, about 70km from Dehradun. My brother-in-law and their daughter are also safe there,” said Suthar.

“I hope to reach the hospital late at night, provided the authorities allow me to continue on the onward journey,” said Suthar, adding that he plans to shift his sister to a hospital in Ahmedabad. “The devastation is terrible,” he said.

Gunjan Shah, another city resident whose in-laws were in Uttarakhand, said: “Their journey was stopped just two kilometres away from the worst-affected area. Though stranded, they have managed to book a flight back home and will be in Ahmedabad by Thursday night.”

Unlike others, Jayesh Patel of Vinay Tours and Travels said he has asked his clients to stay put in Uttarakhand. “I have asked them to stay at Saynashakti itself. I do not want to take any risk,” said Patel, who has two buses full of tourists from Gujarat stuck in Uttarakhand. “We have made arrangements for their stay, food and everything,” he added.

Dhruv Dave, a tour operator who was among those airlifted from Ramvada, said he was in Kedarnath when the tragedy struck. “We took shelter in the temple itself and there were 100 people packed in one room. We could not even breathe,” said Dave. “Later, we were rescued and sent to Ramvada before the army airlifted us again. I’m now in Rishikesh and on my way home,” he added.

According to information available with Tour Operators & Travel Agents Association of Gujarat (TAG), pilgrims trapped between Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi have already reached either Rishikesh or Haridwar, said Chinmay Upadhyay of Synchronize Hospitality. TAG has started a helpline – 079-26560468 – for Chardham pilgrims. They can also send details of the missing pilgrims with their name, age, address and photo to president@tagindia.org.