Special train to bring back pilgrims from Andhra

The railways is running a special train from Delhi to Secunderabad for survivors of Uttarakhand floods belonging to Andhra Pradesh.

The special train leaving Friday night will bring back the pilgrims who have reached the national capital from Uttarakhand. This special train will leave Nizamuddin at 9.30 p.m. Friday and is expected to arrive Secunderabad on Sunday.

"Extra coaches are also being attached to Dakshin Express and Duronto Express leaving Delhi today (Friday) to Secunderabad to clear the extra rush of passengers," said a statement by the South Central Railway (SCR) here.

The SCR has also dispatched a special empty rake consisting of 15 coaches from Secunderabad to Haridwar. It is part of the efforts of railways to attach extra coaches/operate special trains for clearing the pilgrims stranded due to floods in Uttarakhand.

Senior officials of SCR are in close liaison with Railway Board and Northern Railway authorities to coordinate the movement of special trains/attaching extra coaches on trains from northern region towards Andhra Pradesh.

About 500 pilgrims from the southern state have reached Andhra Pradesh Bhavan during last two days. Minister of State for Railways Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy visited them and assured that the railways would make all arrangements for their return to their respective destinations.

Union Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi and other central ministers from the state also visited AP Bhavan to meet the pilgrims and review the arrangements being made for their return.

Eight pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh were killed and scores of others were missing. About 3,000 people from Andhra had gone to Uttarakhand for pilgrimage when heavy rains and floods struck the hill state.