Dharamsala, August 6 – Three members of a Tibetan family living in Leh have died, and another person from the same family is missing after flash floods triggered by a massive cloudburst hit Ladakh Thursday night. The death toll has gone up to 120. The floods have washed away several government buildings and homes, according to the police.
The cloudburst occurred at Choglamsar village, where a branch school of the Tibetan Children’s Village is located. Choglamsar is very close to the Indus River. However, no deaths to any children or Tibetan residents in Choglamsar have been reported as of now but the school hospital is filled with injured people from nearby areas.
Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora described the situation as “unprecedented” devastation.
Tented accommodation and free rations were being arranged for the victims.
Around 6,000 soldiers of Indian army were engaged in the relief and rescue operations. Sources say flash floods have washed away concrete structures, including government offices, paramilitary camps and residential homes in the town.
The headquarters of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam limited (BSNL), a government polytechnic, the ITBP camp, Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) camp, some government offices and residential homes have been extensively damaged.
Police say that the runway of Leh airport has been inundated by flood waters and road connectivity disrupted.
Due to the damage to the BSNL headquarters, communications have been completely disrupted in Leh town, 434 km from capital Srinagar. 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.
Television footage showed collapsed buildings, downed power lines and people walking through mud to try to dig survivors out of the rubble.
Jora told AFP that the death toll was likely to rise “significantly” with dozens still missing in Leh and rescue workers unable to reach some of the affected districts nearby.
The Indian army has a large presence in Ladakh, a predominantly Buddhist region which shares a sensitive border with Tibet.
