suma25 Posted August 9, 2010 Posted August 9, 2010 153 bodies found, 500 still missing Security agencies, locals and tourists join hands to speed up rescue and relief work in Leh and surrounding areas Anil Raina Posted On Monday, August 09, 2010 at 03:19:13 AM In Sonmarg Rescue workers continued to struggle through slush, debris and lack of proper communication even as thousands of locals and tourists joined the relief efforts in Leh on Sunday. Two days after the flash floods that left a trail of death and devastation in Leh and surrounding areas, the toll has crossed the 150 mark when rescue workers pulled out 18 more bodies from the debris, with more than 500 still missing, official sources said. “The scene in Leh town is very heart breaking as people are searching for missing family members and friends,†said Chand Koul, a government official posted in Leh. The biggest roadblock that rescue workers have been facing is communication breakdown as the BSNL office was severely damaged in the deluge. "The major problem is due to the communication breakdown. If communication is restored it will help in co-ordination of rescue operations," Pashi Tsetan, deputy director with the development wing of the local administration, said. Hundreds of Indian and foreign tourists have joined efforts to find the missing people. About 18 more bodies were pulled out of the debris on Sunday. The Army has sought the help of Pakistani authorities to trace 33 jawans of Bihar Regiment who were on duty on the Line of Control as they fear that they might have been swept away towards Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the deluge. A group of about 45 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have also joined the rescue efforts in Leh. The NDRF team has brought with them high-tech equipment and sniffer dogs to help with the rescue work. "The effort of all agencies is to rescue the maximum number of people," said ITBP DIG P K Dhasmana, who is leading hundreds of rescuers. Sources in the Tourism Department confirmed that about 2,500 foreign tourists were in Leh-Ladakh at the time of cloud burst. Locals are also suffering from acute food and water scarcity Security personnel rescued 76 foreign tourists in Pang and seven in Darchiks, and more than 90 tourists are still believed to be stuck at Lamayaru. As many as 1,314 tourists were airlifted from Leh and brought to Delhi, Aviation Ministry sources said. A German Embassy press release said that approximately 100 German nationals, including tourists and those working in various projects in Ladakh, were stranded due to the flash floods in Leh. JET airways and Air India operated four flights each and Kingfisher three to carry medical and other relief material, doctors and para medics to help affected people in Leh, they said. Three IL-76 and four AN-32 aircraft carrying relief material reached Leh this morning. "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," an army spokesman said. Inputs from agencies http://mumbaimirror.com/article/3/2010080920100809031913538a528c905/153-bodies-found-500-still-missing.html
varun Posted August 9, 2010 Posted August 9, 2010 Tragic Event.. Leh is such a beautiful place RIP all those who lost their lives :((
yoda Posted August 9, 2010 Posted August 9, 2010 Really sad. Wonder if there were any flash flood warnings and efforts to warn people in advance.
kabira Posted August 9, 2010 Posted August 9, 2010 My brother was planning to go there for Honeymoon. Wow, thank God he opted out.
beetle Posted August 10, 2010 Posted August 10, 2010 I had gone there years back.The people are so gentle and nice.The children so innocent. Slowly I am losing faith inGod...... RIP Hope the survivors have the strength to move on....
suma25 Posted August 10, 2010 Author Posted August 10, 2010 Really sad. Wonder if there were any flash flood warnings and efforts to warn people in advance. no there isnt .It doesnt rain that often in that place.Also there is no drainage system in the whole area not that it would have helped that much in this situation.Thearmy itbp officers have apparently doing a good job withe ven the foreign tourists pitching in with the rescue effort.
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