Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy requested his Uttarakhand counterpart Vijay Bahuguna this evening to ensure safety of tourists and pilgrims from the state stranded near Uttarakashi district for the past two days.
Reddy spoke to Bahuguna over phone and made the request. Hundreds of tourists and pilgrims were stranded in the hill state due to heavy rains and landslides.
He appealed to the Uttarakhand government to provide water, food, medical assistance and shelter to the stranded people and make arrangements for their return to the state.
A release from the Chief Minister Office's here said, Bahuguna informed Kiran that all pilgrims were safe and relief camps have been set up for them. Required food, water and shelter were being provided to them.
Meanwhile, Uttarakashi Collector Rajesh Kumar informed Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Prasanna Kumar Mohanty that about 5,000 people have been provided shelter in 20 relief camps between Dunda Market and Nalupari on the Gangotri road.
Most of the people in the relief camps were from AP and arrangements for food and medicines have been made for them, Kumar said, according to official sources.
Kumar told the Chief Secretary that about 200 to 300 people from the state were stranded between Nalupari and Darasuband road but a hotel was available there with food.
"All efforts are being made to clear the road and as soon as the blockades are cleared, all pilgrims and tourists will be sent back to AP," the Collector added.
