Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today assured immediate help to those affected by heavy rains in Uttarakhand as the state government dispatched a rescue team to oversee evacuation of pilgrims stranded at Hemkunt Sahib.
As per the orders issued by Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal, Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Arunjit Singh Miglani has been asked to head the team to oversee the evacuation of stranded pilgrims, an official spokesperson said.
Miglani would obtain security personnel from ADGP (Security), a medical team from Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare and required number of buses from Principal Secretary Transport, he said.
He has been directed to station himself at Joshimath in Chamoli district, liaise with Uttarakhand government and report the progress of evacuation to Punjab Civil Control Room daily, the spokesperson said.
Sub Divisional Magistrate, SAS Nagar (Mohali) Lakhmir Singh has also been asked to accompany him, the spokesperson said.
Terming the situation in Uttarakhand as a national tragedy, Badal assured full and immediate help to all those affected regardless of their respective states or their destination of pilgrimage, an official spokesperson said.
Several residents of Punjab who had gone on a pilgrimage to Sri Hemkunt Sahib in Uttarakhand are stranded due to heavy rains and reported damage of bridges and roads.
Stating the main objective of Punjab government was to expedite the rescue operation so that all the pilgrims stuck at Gobind Dham and other nearby places are evacuated, Badal hoped that all those stranded would soon be brought back home safe and sound.
He prayed to the Almighty for safety of all people stranded in Uttarakhand.
