22 from Gurgaon missing in Uttarakhand

Family members of at least 22 pilgrims from here travelling in Uttarakhand claimed Thursday that they had lost contact with their loved ones.

Among those reported missing were residents of Heli Mandi town and Shikohpur village who were in Uttarakhand on pilgrimage.

Some family members have proceeded to Uttarakhand in a bid to trace their missing loved ones, as helpline numbers provided by the government were not responding.

A team of 20 members from Heli Mandi of Pataudi subdivision, 26 km from Gurgaon city, had gone to visit different shrines June 8 in a vehicle with registration number HR 23 H 0399, and in some other vehicles.

A relative of one of the missing people said: "I last heard from him late Saturday, and he said the group was at Kedarnath."

Among the missing pilgrims is former councillor Balkishan Vashiat, his wife Somlata, elder brother Ramkishan, and his wife Chanderkala.

"My father spoke to me June 16 night, and said the situation was grim," Balkishan's daughter Archana said.

Indersen Bansal, his wife Pushpa, granddaughter Rishita, former councillor Shanti Devi Sharma, her son Shankar, Brijmohan Singla and his wife Shantosh, along with other pilgrims, were also not traceable.

Ishwar Singh and his brother Harish from Shikohpur village were also among those travelling in Uttarakhand and now reported missing.