Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Chandigarh, June 20, 2013: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal asked the Punjab’s Official team monitoring the entire rescue operation in Uttrakhand to ensure safe return of each Sikh pilgrim stuck at Gobind Dham and other surrounding areas due to inclement weather and rain fury in the region.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office informed that an official team of the Punjab Government had reached Gobind Dham yesterday and managed to evacuate 300 pilgrims by helicopter on the same day.
Special Secretary Kahan Singh Pannu, who is leading the team, informed telephonically from Gobind Dham that 500 more pilgrims would be airlifted today to the safe places. Pannu also informed that there were about 3,000 Sikh pilgrims and all of them were in high moral and safe. The local administration and army were fully cooperating to the Punjab’s team, added Pannu.
Regarding the arrangements for Langar (Community Kitchen) he said that to run the Langar activity in an organised and smooth manner a five-member Langer Committee has been constituted. The local Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee was also facilitating all the pilgrims, added Pannu.
It was also informed that the State Government would extend leave of those employees who had been trapped and grant exemption from the election duty till they return back safely. Pannu urged the public not to create any panic as the situation at Govind Dham was completely under control, evacuation operation was in full swing and his team would ensure the safety of each pilgrim.
Pannu is complied by DIG Khubi Ram, MD Punjab State Cooperative Bank Kamaldip Singh Sangha besides Amarjit Singh and Inderjit Singh from DGSE office.