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| Leh cloudburst: Army fights flood and mud to rescue trapped people | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
NEW DELHI, Aug 6: Armed Forces are set on massive rescue and relief operations for the victims of the last midnight's devastating cloudburst in Choglumsar area of Leh in Ladakh in which over 100 people lost their lives.
After initial reports from the high altitude Northern tip of the country where the tragedy took place, the Ministry of Defence issued a statement here today, indicating extensive damage due to flash floods and mudslides. Civilian facilities like the bus-stand, BSNL towers, hospitals, the runway of the Leh airport and the ATC towers have been affected, often badly.
The road approaches to Leh from Srinagar through Zozilla and from Rohtang Pass have been cut-off due to washing away of bridges by mudslides. As many as 25 Army Jawans are reported missing. According to another report three personnel of Army Service Corps have died in the tragedy and four policemen perished during rescue work. The Defence Institute of High Altitude Research of DRDO has also been damaged.
The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed Ministry of Defence to provide all-out rescue and relief assistance to cloudburst victims in Leh. The Defence Minister AK Antony, discussed the situation in a series of meetings of senior officials of MoD, the Services and DRDO since this morning.
The Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar is in close touch with the State Administration of Jammu & Kashmir as also Union Ministry of Home Affairs here to ensure coordinated effort for the relief operations. He spoke to the Chief Secretary of J&K and assured all possible help to the State.
As many as 22 Columns of Army personnel under the leadership of 14 Corps are busy in relief and rescue operations. Nearly 400 critically injured people have already been evacuated by the Army. All the civilian doctors in the Leh District Hospital have been operating from Army Hospital, Leh as the Civil Hospital has been filled with mud.
The Tri-Service Disaster Management Committee of the Ministry of Defence met in New Delhi, this afternoon to take stock of the situation. Adequate number of aircraft and helicopters are available at Kargil, Chandigarh and Udhampur to move to Leh.
The Defence Ministry statement says that the ATC and airport at Leh, which had come under six inches thick slush on the runway, were expected to be operational by late evening today. It said that there was enough food grain stock available at Leh. If necessary, essential commodities would be airlifted to Leh. DRDO is also providing medicines and relief materials. Indian Air Force has been directed to airlift civilians, if needed. A medical team along with essential medical supplies has been kept on standby for flying them to Leh after the runway became operational.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha member from Leh Hassan Khan who was in Delhi at the time of the tragedy tried to raise the worst ever floods in his constituency in the House during zero hour. Soon the Prime Minister's office issued a statement announcing the sanction of an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the next of kin of the persons deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured.
The statement said "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. The Centre will do all that is possible to help the State Government and the affected people in the rescue and relief operations."
The Vice President M Hamid Ansari too issued a statement where he said "I am deeply grieved and shocked to learn of the tragic loss of life and property caused due to flash floods triggered by massive cloudburst in Leh in the Ladakh region. I join all citizens in sending condolences to the members of the bereaved families and pray to the Almighty to grant them the strength to withstand this immense loss." |
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