By Shiva Duangmee, Agence India Press,
Leh: At least 80 people have been killed and 300 injured while as many more are missing after flash floods hit Leh in Ladakh. Reports said a number of people were killed and many injured in a massive cloudburst on Thursday night.
59 bodies have been recovered from the flooded areas, J&K Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda said. Among the dead were three jawans of the Army Service Corps.
“At least 200 people are in the army hospital with injuries. And many more people are trapped under houses and buildings that have collapsed,” he said.
He said a massive rescue operation was underway involving the state police, paramilitary forces and the army in Leh town.
50 CRPF cops were rescued from the flooded areas, Khoda said.
A senior police officer told Agence India Press that, radio station and BSNL have been completely damaged due to mud slides. “69 dead bodies were recovered till 12.30 pm. The death toll is likely to go up. All communications lines are snapped and we are getting information through wireless messages.
An army spokesperson said 6,000 of its personnel were engaged in the relief and rescue operation and helicopters had been pressed into service since foot movement was extremely difficult due to the mudslides and flash floods. Army and CRPF personnel are assisting local administration to clear the area.
According to the police, 100 shops and 50 houses have been damaged in the heart of the town.
BSNL communication services have been snapped as its towers were also hit by flash floods. Power supply has also been affected.
The district hospital and two buildings housing offices of the Union Home Ministry were also affected.
Five villages have been hit in the sudden downpour and flashfloods. These included Choglumsar and Shapoo. Old Leh city was among the worst affected. The main bus stand was flattened.
The Srinagar-Leh Highway has been cut off as a crucial bridge between Syong and Nemu was washed away. The Leh airport runway, however, is now operational.
Old Leh city is worst affected, with the main hospital, SNM Hospital, flooded and the main bus stand flattened. The city’s main telephone exchange is also submerged.
An Indo Tibetan Boder Police camp and a number of government offices have also been damaged.
Tented accommodation and free rations were being arranged for the victims.
The Leh airport that stopped all operations following last night’s flash floods is expected to be up and running in the evening, authorities said.
According to Agence India Press correspondent, special teams from the Army and the Air Force are working overtime to clear the six inches of slush that has covered the airport runway.
Relief aircraft are waiting for the Leh airport to be operational before they can ferry the much-needed help to the area.
Air Force aircraft are on standby at Chandigarh, Thoise and Udhampur to fly into Leh after the runway is cleared. Defence Minister A K Antony is personally monitoring rescue and relief operations in Leh. The Defence ministry is also coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide assistance.
A tri-service crisis management group is also meeting this afternoon to work out a detailed package for the victims. The Defence Secretary has also spoken to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir and assured him of all assistance.
Leh, situated at 3,524 mt above sea level, is spread over 45,110 sq km, and comprises the main town and 12 adjacent villages.
According to the reports, the cloudburst happened between 12.30 and 1.00 am on Friday. The cloudburst triggered torrential rains, mudslides and flash floods.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, on Friday expressed shock and grief over the loss of life and property in cloudburst related floods in the Choglumsar area near Leh in Ladakh, and sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh each to the kin of each of the deceased.
“I am deeply shocked to learn of the loss of lives and devastation in the flash floods caused by cloudburst in the Choglumsar area near Leh in Ladakh. I send my heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved families and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” said Singh in his condolence message.
“The Centre will do all that is possible to help the State Government and the affected people in the rescue and relief operations,” he added.
Prime Minister has also sanctioned Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
The Vice President M. Hamid Ansari has deeply condoled the tragic loss of life and property caused due to flash floods triggered by massive cloudburst in Leh .
A cloudburst is an extreme form of rainfall. The downpour is always voluminous and leads to flash floods. The cloudburst rainfall is sometimes mixed with hail and thunder. It does not last for more than a few minutes but is capable of causing great damage.