Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 23: The Minister of State for R&B, Sunil Sharma has issued directives to the district and divisional administration of Jammu to take immediate steps in tracing the pilgrims who have gone missing during the Machail yatra.
In a statement here, today the Minister said that some people including the father of two girls informed him that their children who had gone to perform the annual pilgrimage of Machail Mata have not returned though the yatra has ended now.
The Minister said that he has taken up the issue with Chief Minister and also issued instructions to Divisional Commissioner Jammu as well as Deputy Commissioner and police authorities of Kishtwar to launch search operation for missing yatris immediately. He said following his directives the DC and SSP Kishtwar also visited the Machail to ascertain the situation.
Mr Sharma said that the parents of two missing girls also met him and they were in great pain and agony.
The Minister said that he has also brought the matter in the notice of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and urged her that Government machinery should be pressed into service to locate the missing pilgrims.
Sharma said that there are apprehensions that a cloud burst took place in a nullah in the Machail area two days back and there is also apprehension that the pilgrims may have not been hit by it.
He said there are reports that four to five pilgrims are missing who did not report back after the culmination of yatra.
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