The special train from Haridwar to Mumbai reached the city at around 5 am on Sunday, bringing much relief to almost 500 stranded passengers and their relatives. An unreserved train of 16 coaches reached Mumbai Central after halting at a few important destinations on the way. Western Railway will run another special as and when it gets sufficient number of passengers, while Central Railway is also contemplating on adding extra coaches to its Haridwar AC express.
However, passengers who reached Mumbai on Sunday morning seemed satisfied with the efforts made by the different state and Central agencies. Recounting her experience, Pushpa Kale (55), who led the team of 15 pilgrims, said, “We reached home safely only because we got support from every one. Be it the Uttarakhand people, the owner of the hotel where we stayed, military forces, Central and state government machinery, everyone came forward to help us.”
The wife of Shiv Sena MLA Ashok Kale, Pushpa added, “When we came to know about the landslide, we could not go there. Whenever I get a chance, I will go to Uttarakhand again. The state’s beauty is indefinable.”
Another pilgrim, Chaturbhuj Sarwaiya, who undertook the Chardham Yatra with his wife said, “We left Kopargaon on June 7 with Ms Kale’s team. Seconds after we crossed the Gaurikund bridge, we saw it being flushed away in the rainwater. There was a trail of devastation all around. Few kilometres ahead we got shelter at Rampur Hotel which proved to be a life saviour. We spent three most horrific days of our lives there.”