BHUBANESWAR: About 300 people from Odisha were among many pilgrims standard at a place between Joshimath and Govindghat along the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway since April 28 last due to a landslide followed by heavy rains at Vishnuprayag in Uttarakhand.
"We have taken steps to rescue the people stranded in Uttarakhand. Odisha government's Resident Commissioner posted at New Delhi has been making arrangements to ensure safe return of the people," said special relief commissioner (SRC) G V V Sharma.
The Uttarakhand state government has already initiated rescue operation after Union Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took up the matter.
"I spoke to the additional district magistrate concerned. Arrangement is being made for food and treatment of the people stranded in Uttarakhand," Pradhan said.
L N Mishra, Collector of Bhadrak in Odisha said at least 54 people from his district were trapped due to the landslide.
"I have spoken to the people standard there. All of them are safe," Mishra said.
The stranded 300 pilgrims from Odisha were from Bhadrak, Balangir, Bargarh and Mayurbhanj districts, the SRC said.
Communication between Joshimath and Govindghat was completely disrupted after the landslide at Vishnuprayag at about 11 AM on Tuesday last.