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Massive relief and rescue operation for Leh flash floods victims | The Ministry of Home Affairs has been in regular touch
with the Jammu and Kashmir Government to coordinate relief and response efforts in the wake of massive mudslide sparked by Friday's cloudburst in the Choglumsar
area near Leh in Ladakh. An IL-76 aircraft was dispatched this morning after the
Leh airport runway became operational. It is reported to carry three teams of
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) comprising 140 persons and all required
equipment. Tents capable of use at high altitudes are also being dispatched. It
is proposed to dispatch as many as 250 of these (with a capacity of 10 -12 persons).
A medical team consisting of seven doctors (and possibly four nurses) has also
been dispatched by the same aircraft. Dispatch of some basic telecom equipment
and a few personnel was also organised so as to facilitate earliest restoration
of BSNL connectivity. Directions have been issued to ITBP field formation at Leh
to extend all necessary assistance to the Civil Administration in relief and rescue
operations including supply of pre-fabricated shelters and ready to eat food/ration.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces under the guidance of the Ministry of Defence have
mounted massive rescue and relief operations for the victims of the devastating
cloudburst in Leh. Initial reports indicate extensive damage due to flash floods
and mudslides. Civilian areas like the bus-stand, BSNL towers, hospitals, the
runway of the Leh airport and the ATC towers have been affected. 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. 25 Army Jawans are reported missing.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has directed Ministry of Defence to provide
all-out rescue and relief assistance to cloudburst victims in Leh. Defence Minister
AK Antony is personally monitoring the operation. Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar
is in close touch with the Jammu and Kashmir Administration to ensure coordinated
effort for the relief operations. Twenty-two 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 makeshift hospitals 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. At least 113
people are killed and over 500 others are reported to be missing in the floods.
Earlier on Friday, the Indian Air Force personnel conducted aerial sorties over
the area to assess the damage. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
has directed the civil and police administration to undertake relief and rescue
work on a war footing. Earlier on Friday, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said
food supplies and other relief materials including medicines would be transported
to the affected and stranded people. "6000 Army personnel, the ITBP (Indo-Tibetan
Border Police), all are fully acclimatised to the conditions of Leh so they are
engaged in rescue operations. We have arranged for rushing supplies to Leh," said
Chidambaram. "I have instructed the Secretary to get ready food supplies and medicines
from the National Disaster Management Authority and rush it. But I think there
is some problem about the airport there. As soon as the airport becomes functional
we hope to be able to land supplies there," he added. |
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