09/08/2010
In worst-hit village, ‘it was doomsday’
Choglumsar/Leh: Houses are no more than a pile of rubble, half buried in slush; roads like dry mountainous streams; and cars bob on the river. But Choglumsar, 6 km from Leh town, will come to that later. Right now, the village worst hit by Thursday night’s flash floods is burying its dead — the toll is up to 22 — and counting its missing.
In worst-hit village, ‘it was doomsday’
Army personnel taking help of a sniffer dog to locate survivors and bodies of victims after Friday's devastating flash floods, triggered by cloudbursts, in Leh on Sunday. PTI Photo
It was a 15-minute fury of nature that turned Choglumsar's world upside down. "It was like doomsday," says Sonam Tchering. "It was around 12.15 in the night and there was a deafening sound. What happened then, I can't describe in words. I could only hear screams and noise."
Unable to see in the dark, Tchering and his family rushed out, crossing the water stream to the nearby mountain. "As dawn broke, we looked down. We couldn't see our house," he says.
In worst-hit village, ‘it was doomsday’
Hundreds of Armymen have joined the rescue, but their task is getting difficult. "So far, we have found 18 bodies," Major M S Maan said. "The slush is getting thicker and hard with time."
A teacher from California, Andrew Mccrary was out on a trek when the cloudburst struck. "When I returned, Leh was a completely different place from what I had seen five days ago," he says. Mccrary is now doing what he can to help.
IANS reports: Over 500 people, including a Spanish tourist and 20 Army soldiers, were missing on Sunday, two days after a cloudburst caused flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir's Leh town, claiming at least 132 lives and causing widespread destruction.
Four Air India flights reached the town on Sunday to evacuate stranded passengers, most of them foreigners, while the Indian Air Force sent more planes with relief supplies.
In worst-hit village, ‘it was doomsday’
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir zone) Farooq Ahmad said the 111 bodies identified so far do not include any foreigners. The rescue teams have fanned out to six villages near Leh that had not yet been reached during the relief operations.
Over 400 people were injured in the disaster, including a Spanish tourist, and are being treated in a local hospital, he said
The bodies of four policemen who died in the rescue operations were airlifted to Srinagar, where tributes were paid to them. Their bodies were later sent to their hometown, Kargil, in the Ladakh region.
Ahmed said that medical personnel and relief supplies had begun reaching in strength and special flights have been flying out stranded tourists.
At least 20 soldiers deployed near the base camp of Siachen glacier - the highest battleground of the world at the height of 18,000 feet above sea level - are still missing and are feared dead, army sources said in Jammu.
In worst-hit village, ‘it was doomsday’
Army personnel carrying out rescue and relief work among rubbles of damaged houses after Friday's devastating flash floods, triggered by cloudbursts, in Leh on Sunday. PTI Photo
The sources said that they feared that the soldiers were dead as there was no trace of life anywhere in the area they were posted in.
The IAF has pressed more aircraft into service to take relief material. Besides Chandigarh and Delhi, relief supplies are being ferried in from Jammu and Udhampur as well, an army spokesman said in Jammu.
"An IL-76 and AN-32 transport planes took off from Jammu and Udhampur Sunday with relief material and also debris clearing machines like earthmovers and engineering equipment, provided by the Northern Command of the Indian Army," the spokesman said.
In worst-hit village, ‘it was doomsday’
A view of the rescue and relief work being carried out after Friday's devastating flash floods, triggered by cloudbursts, in Leh on Sunday. PTI Photo
Stunned locals are still trying to come to terms with the tragedy that hit Leh, which is popular with Indians and foreigners alike. The floods razed important buildings and washed away homes as people desperately tried to escape.
Survivors clawed through their devastated homes to look for their near and dear ones - some who survived while others were not so lucky.
The shocked tourists promptly made a beeline for the airport to leave the town at the earliest.
Britain on Sunday advised its citizens against travelling to Ladakh and asked those in the area to follow "local advice".
In worst-hit village, ‘it was doomsday’
A view of the rescue and relief work being carried out after Friday's devastating flash floods, triggered by cloudbursts, in Leh on Sunday. PTI Photo
"Due to ongoing disruption following floods, we advise against travel to Leh and the surrounding area at the current time," said a travel advisory issued by the British foreign office.
The police have set up tented accommodation for 2,000 victims in Choglamsar village and Leh town where free meals are being served.
In Delhi, NGO Save the Children appealed to the people to contribute relief material like blankets and household utility kits.
"About 5,000 blankets are required immediately to keep people warm, particularly children as homes have been damaged and the weather conditions are poor," said Thomas Chandy, the NGO's chief executive officer.
"About 5,000 household and hygiene kits are required. Tarpaulins and medical assistance are some of the other critical needs of the victims," he said.
In worst-hit village, ‘it was doomsday’
A resident salvaging household items after Friday's devastating flash floods, triggered by cloudbursts, in Leh on Sunday. PTI Photo
Save the Children is coordinating relief efforts with international NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and local NGOs.
To lend a helping hand or to donate one can call or SMS at +91 8898619953 and +91 9811320906, or log onto www.savethechildren.in.
Over 6,000 army soldiers and troopers of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are involved in the massive relief and rescue operation and are assisting the local administration.
Leh is 434 km from Srinagar and 474 km from Manali in Himachal Pradesh, to which it is connected by an alternative highway.
The cloudburst occurred at Choglamsar village, which is situated above Leh town, causing flash floods and mudslides that washed away government offices, paramilitary camps and residential homes.
Among the worst hit are the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), many local hotels and shops.
The headquarters of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a government polytechnic, an ITBP camp, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp, some government offices and the main transmitter of All India Radio Leh have been extensively damaged by the flash floods.
In worst-hit village, ‘it was doomsday’
Resident walks past a car buried in mud after Friday's devastating flash floods, triggered by cloudbursts, in Leh on Sunday. PTI Photo
The general manager of BSNL said that according to preliminary estimates the corporation has suffered a loss of around Rs.12 crore and the damage has led to communications being completely disrupted in Leh.
Another service provider, Airtel whose network is still operating in Leh, has issued SIM cards to the local administration for setting up helplines.
Situated at 3,524 m above sea level, Leh is spread over 45,110 sq. km. and comprises the main town and 12 adjacent villages.
Source: The Indian Express
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