Gurdwara officials abandoned us

Faridkot, Punjab: While the Punjab Government is making tall claims of evacuating over 800 stranded pilgrims from Hemkund Sahib, two local families, which returned today, flayed the SGPC, Hemkund gurdwara management and the government for its “apathetic” attitude in the horrifying moments of natural disaster.

Recounting the tale of horror, destruction and human apathy, Master Faghan Singh and Dr Kanwarjeet Singh said the natural disaster not only ravaged the hill state but also hurt the psyche of thousands of Sikh pilgrims who suffered due to indifferent attitude of the authorities.

Besides making false claims in the media, these authorities had done nothing, alleged Master Faghan Singh. “On June 15, flood water uprooted the power transformer at the gurdwara and damaged the generator sets. It was dark and scary. Instead of helping the pilgrims, gurdwara officials preferred to escape to safer places,” alleged Master Faghan Singh.

Speaking over the phone Chand Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Channa Singh and Raju Singh, all of Faridkot who are still stranded at Gobind Ghat, said except armed forces jawans, no one extended a helping hand to them.

Source: The Tribune