Chennai:
DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Wednesday urged the Central and the state governments to take steps to rescue Tamils stranded in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand and ensure their safe return.
"On my advice, (DMK leader) T R Baalu has taken up the issue with Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to rescue the Tamils who were on a pilgrimage to Badrinath. Their relatives are suffering. The Centre and the state government should take steps to rescue the stranded Tamils using helicopters," he said in a statement in Chennai.
He also raised concerns over the reported disruption of telephone services in the area.
About 90 pilgrims from Kancheepuram and Villupuram districts visiting the holy sites of Badrinath and Kedarnath have been stranded.
Meanwhile, Chennai Police has set up a help centre in Chennai for the relatives of pilgrims and tourists stranded in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand.
A police release said relatives of pilgrims stranded to provide their profile, age details and photographs to the help centre, which can be reached at phone numbers 044-28555036 and 044-23452323.