RailEnquiry

KOLKATA: In the wake of the torrential rainfall that has lashed north India, the state government has decided to write to the Railway Board, requesting a special train from Dehradun in Uttarakhand that could bring back stranded pilgrims from Bengal.State ministers Madan Mitra and Rachpal Singh have already reached Dehradun to monitor the rescue operations of these tourists.On Tuesday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said that there were around 1,700 tourists and pilgrims from Bengal who were stranded in Uttarakhand.Mamata had also called up Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna and assured him of all possible help from her government to combat the situation. The state government officials have been in touch with their Uttarakhand counterparts as well.State fire services and disaster management minister Javed Khan who is keeping tabs on the development from Writers' Buildings said on Wednesday that one route had been opened through which the stranded pilgrims were coming towards Dehradun.

"The two ministers (Madan and Rachpal) are supervising the rescue operations from Dehradun. Our chief secretary will send a letter to the Railway Board requesting them if a special train could be provided or extra coaches could be added to a train to bring back the pilgrims. The pilgrims are expected to return in two to three days," Khan said.

The state is sending a letter to the railway board requesting to provide a special train from Dehradun to bring back the stranded Uttarakhand pilgrims. Ministers Madan Mitra and Rachpal Singh have reached Dehradun to monitor the rescue and evacuation process of the tourists who had gone from the state.

On Tuesday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said that there were roughly 1,700 tourists and pilgrims from Bengal who have got stranded in Uttarakhand.

State fire services and disaster management minister Javed Khan, who is keeping updated on the developments from Writers' Buildings said that one route has been opened through which the stranded pilgrims are coming towards Dehradun. "The two ministers are supervising the rescue operations from Dehradun. Already air lifting the pilgrims in helicopters have started to bring out them. Our chief secretary will send a letter to the railway board requesting if a special train could be provided or extra coaches could be added to a train to bring back the pilgrims. The pilgrims are expected to return in two to three days," Khan said on Wednesday.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had personally called up Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna on Tuesday and assured him that the Bengal government will help as much as possible to combat the situation and for the safe return of the pilgrims who have been stranded at Uttarakhand. The state government have been keeping constant touch with their Uttarakhand counterpart.