Alagiri to the rescue of Tamil tourists

MADURAI: All it took was an SMS to Union minister MK Alagiri and the wheels of the government machinery turned fast for a group of pilgrims from Tamil Nadu stranded in flood-hit Andhra Pradesh. Eighteen tourists from Pallipalayam in Tamil Nadu trapped in Mantralayam in Kurnool district sent an SMS to the Union chemicals and fertiliser minister that they were stuck on the upper floor of a building.
"Please rescue us; we are trapped in Brindavan chathiram in Mantralayam," said the SMS sent after the tourists on waking up on Thursday found the entire ground floor innundated and no exit routes open.
P Durai, a relative of one of them, told TOI that the group had contacted their families on their cell phone and they in turn suggested that the trapped folks contact Alagiri, since he had helped a group of tourists earlier. They also sent the Union Minister's cell number.