AP, Telangana govt helping pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand

The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments have begun efforts to bring back the Telugu pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand due to heavy rains.
Following directives from the state government, the officials of the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in Delhi have been in touch with Uttarakhand government, a release issued by Andhra Pradesh government said here today.
About 140 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh are believed to have been stranded in the hill state due to the heavy rains.
"The Resident Commissioner of AP Bhavan has spoken to an officer at Chamoli camping in Badrinath and also related officers at Joshimath. He has also spoken to some of the stranded people to know about their whereabouts and health," the release said.

The state government has arranged buses to ferry the pilgrims from Haridwar and Rishikesh, it added.
"Two officers of AP have been deputed at Haridwar and Rishikesh, respectively, to monitor and assist the affected pilgrims who are likely to reach in the night or tomorrow morning," the release added.

A release from the Telangana Chief Minister's Office said the Resident Commissioner of Telangana Bhavan in Delhi is making efforts to bring the pilgrims back to safety.
As per a directive from Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, the official has spoken to the Collectors of Rudraprayag and Chamoli, the release said.

The relatives of the pilgrims who are on visit to Uttarakhand can give information in their concerned district collector's offices in Telangana, the release added.