A 28-member group of tourists, natives of Kerala, who had gone missing after a cloudburst triggered massive mudslides in Uttarakhand, are safe now, family members confirmed on Wednesday, after hearing their status from Defence sources. A relative of a Kochi-based couple, who were part of the tour group, informed reporters that all 28 tourists were safe.
“The latest information we received from Defence sources was that they are safe, but are still stuck in the bus and cannot go anywhere. Majority of them are above 55 years of age. Even Army personnel are unable to reach where their bus is located," the relative, Ambili N Nair, told the media.
It has been learnt that even the Malayalam Samajam in Uttarakhand confirmed that the tourists were safe but stranded.
Of the 28 individuals, 20 are reportedly from Kerala but were settled in Maharashtra, while the remaining eight are from various districts in Kerala, Ambili had said to the media.
Also read: Uttarkashi cloudburst raises Ganga’s water level in Rishikesh
She said the couple's son last spoke to them a day ago.
“They said they were leaving from Uttarkashi to Gangotri at around 8.30 am that day. The landslides occurred along that route. We have been unable to contact them since they left," she had said.
She said that the Haridwar-based travel agency, which arranged the 10-day Uttarakhand tour, was also unable to provide any update on the group's whereabouts.
"Their phones may have run out of battery by now. There is no mobile network in that region currently," she added.
Officials said nearly half of Dharali was buried under a massive mudslide of slush, debris, and water. The village is a key stop on the route to Gangotri, the origin of the Ganga, and hosts several hotels and homestays.
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