118 more to return today, 14 still stranded in hill State

11 pilgrims are stranded in the Gaurikund area and efforts are on to airlift them, said officials

One hundred and eighteen more stranded pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, who are in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand, will be brought back to Chennai by Sunday.

Till now, 157 have returned to the city, an official release issued on Saturday said.

A panel of officials, deputed by the State government to Uttarakhand to facilitate the return of the pilgrims, had also established contact with 382 persons, who will first be taken to New Delhi before being sent to Chennai.

The total number of pilgrims from the State who were in Uttarakhand has been revised to 671.

A few days ago, this was put at 399.

As for the remaining 14 persons, the release said eleven, hailing from Villupuram district, were stranded in the Gaurikund area. All efforts were being made to airlift them. The release, however, said no communication could be established with one person from Ramanathapuram.

When asked about two remaining pilgrims, government sources engaged with the rescue operations said their status was yet to be ascertained.