Leh:
Following the disastrous flash floods that hit Leh on Friday, the Army is now searching for the bodies of 26 jawans who are missing from Thygasi near Turtuk along the Line of Control (Loc).
(In Pics: Flash floods in Leh)This group of soldiers was untraceable after a hillock came crashing down on their post which is barely 150 metres from the LoC.
Sources in the Army say that most of these soldiers could be buried under 20-feet debris. But the Army does not rule out some of the soldiers having got swept away across the border to Pakistan.
After the incident, Indian Army's Director General of Military Operations got in touch with his counterpart in Pakistan to inform him of the possibility of some bodies being washed away into their territory. This was done as per the standard procedure established between the two countries in times of natural calamity.
The soldiers were well-trained to negotiate the conditions, but the Army has not been able to trace them even 48 hours after the incident, sources added.
'MASSIVE DAMAGE TO ARMY POSTS'
There has been massive damage to military infrastructure across Ladakh due to the flash floods.
Speaking to NDTV, 14 Corps Commander Lt General S K Singh to NDTV that many forward posts were cut off.
(Watch)"Our priority is to recover the dead bodies to avoid the outbreak of epidemic," General Singh said.
He added that while the Manali-Leh highway would open for light vehicles soon, the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road may take three to four days more to open.
(Read: 90 foreigners rescued from Zanskar valley)Over 150 people have died in Leh and parts of Ladakh after Friday's devastating cloudburst.
(Read: What's a cloudburst?)