Puducherry: Three of the 49 pilgrims from Puducherry, who had fallen ill due to adverse weather conditions in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand, were airlifted from Harsil to Chamoli from where they were taken by road to Rishikesh Tuesday.
Local administration minister N.G. Panneerselvam, camping in Uttarakhand, said the three pilgrims - Jegadeesan (60), Dhanalakshmi Jegadeesan (57) and Sivaprakasam (73) - who had embarked on a pilgrimage on May 28, had fallen sick due to adverse weather conditions.
The three persons have been admitted to a hospital in Rishikesh and would be airlifted to Puducherry. Panneerselvam said the rest of the pilgrims from Puducherry were safe in a camp at Harsil. The sick and ailing among them would be evacuated on a priority basis, he assured.
Rescue operations by the armed forces were hampered by inclement weather in Uttarakhand. The remaining pilgrims would be airlifted to Chamoli, he said.