Rescue operations to evacuate the flood-ravaged areas of Uttarakhand have been intensified and all the people stranded in Hemkund Sahib have been moved to safety.
According to A Venu Prasad, Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, who was stationed at Rishikesh to oversee the rescue efforts to evacuate the pilgrims from Punjab, a total of 5,000 pilgrims have been sent to Punjab by Sunday night. Majority of the pilgrims from Punjab had gone to visit Sri Hemkund Sahib and all have been evacuated, he said.
Divulging the details of the rescue operations, Punjab Police DIG Khubi Ram said that a fleet of 36 mini buses has been moved to Joshi Math from Rishikesh.
He said the Punjab Government has set up a base camp at Gurdwara Sahib in Rishikesh and the pilgrims from the flood-hit areas were being transported to the base camp.
He further said Punjab Police was setting up its own wireless system at Joshi Math to ensure effective communication network.