About 400 pilgrims went on North Indian Tour from Nalgonda District of AP were stranded at Uttar Kasi due to heavy rains and floods.   Rocks fell from the hills on the ghat road that made the journey difficult for the bus tourists.

AP State Government responded to the woes of the tourists and talked to the Uttarakhand State Government.   AP Govt. was told in response to their request by the Uttarkhand Govt that some of the rocks on the way were cleared with the help of the locals and the tourists were transported to a safe place.  

Nalgonda District Collector Mukteswara Rao talked to the pilgrims over phone and assured them that all efforts will be made to bring them back to their places and not to worry.

The tourists faced hardships as it is not a developed area for which reason there is no arrangement to buy things for eating or drinking before Government’s some rescue arrangements were made.  But their difficulties did not end there.  They had to shift from the dharmashala at Bishanpur where they were given shelter due to the over flowing flood waters of Ganges.  They had to climb to the heights on the hills to survive.  

Only a helicopter can airlift them for a safe place as per the message sent by the one of the pilgrims, Chennakesavulu.  But the it was felt that an airlifting is also difficult due to the bad weather at that place.  Relatives of the tourists at their native places are worried and making frantic calls to them and also to the authorities concerned.

(AW-SriJa)