130 Guntur pilgrims stranded at Hilsa

GUNTUR:  As many as 130 pilgrims of Guntur stuck at Hilsa while returning from Holy Manasarovar Yatra and sought help to return home.  The devotees went to the holy tour of Manasarovar on June 25 through Vasavi Film Cultural Association from Guntur who promised to take all measures for the safe journey.  The devotees alleging that tour operator Chitirala Sudhakar went from Hilsa in a helicopter with his family two days ago leaving them at hill place of Hilsa without proper arrangements. 

They lamented that Sudhakar promised to send back helicopter but in vain and they were stuck at Hilsa for the past two days facing troubles for food and medicines. Pilgrims A. Nageswara Rao, P. Srinivasa Rao, M. Hanumantha Rao and others called Guntur west MLA M Venugopala Reddy, Guntur east TD incharge Maddali Giridhar and other leaders and explained their plights seeking help. 

Venugopala Reddy and other took the issue to the notice of officials who were making arrangements for the safe return of devotees.  A devotee Pothuri Siva Narendra Kumar of Guntur alleged that tour operator Sudhakar collected Rs 1.80 lakh per head and another '11,000 in the name of extra expenses but he did not provide proper food and other facilities during the tour. He further alleged that 130 devotees were forced to stay in 7 small huts at Hilsa hill area and Sudhakar did not call them and his phone is unreachable.