Pune helpline is choked with calls

Within minutes after Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) started a special helpline on Wednesday for family members of Maharashtra tourists stranded in Uttarakhand, the helpline was engaged by anxious relatives from across the state. The helpline became functional at 2pm received 50 odd calls by 5pm. This prompted the PCMC to start the helpline. Family members can contact  PCMC disaster management chief Om Prakash Bahiwal on 9850728366 or PCMC’s public relation officer Kiran Gaikwad on 9922501442.

Bahiwal told dna, “The decision to start the helpline was taken as relatives were contacting us, seeking information for the last two days. The  additional commissioner suggested that we provide numbers so that the citizens can get some help and information.”