Vadakkancherry: Most members of the pilgrimage group, including people from Kerala who had been stranded at Bhaironghati near Gangotri, are safe and have returned to their hotel rooms in Uttarkashi. Relief swept through the family of Kizhakkoottu Manikandan and his wife Usha when the couple, who are part of the group, sent a photo and message to their son confirming their safety.

Although it became clear within a day that the couple had not been caught in the flash floods, a break in communication on Thursday triggered anxiety among their relatives. The bus carrying the pilgrimage group towards Gangotri had been stranded at Bhaironghati following the floods. All except four members of the group were airlifted by helicopter and taken to a hotel in Uttarkashi.

After reaching the hotel, Manikandan and Usha sent their son Shyam a photograph along with the message that they had reached our hotel room in Uttarkashi. It is learned that the team will return to their home states at the earliest.