Leh flash floods: Many trapped, stranded

Flash Floods devastate Leh. A cloudburst triggered torrential rains, mudslides and flash floods. Number of homes were completely destroyed and over 400 injured people were taken to Army hospital.

At least 130 people have been killed around 600 are missing, after flash floods hit Leh, the capital of Ladakh.

Authorities say at least 600 people are still missing among them are some 31 jawans. Over 400 injured people have been admitted in civil and military hospitals in Leh.

Old Leh city is worst affected. The City's main Hospital is flooded, and bus stands destroyed. Footage broadcast on TV channels showed crowds of people searching through debris and trying to clear mud away from collapsed buildings.

Many People are believed to be stranded due to the devastation.

At midnight a massive cloudburst struck the sleeping town, torrential rains triggered mudslides and flash floods. A number of homes were completely destroyed and many injured.

The telephone exchange, the Indo Tibetan Boder Police camp and a number of government offices have been badly damaged. The army has rescued around 50 CRPF jawans trapped in the camp.

Communication lines have snapped, making it difficult for administration officials to reach the affected areas.

Leh, about 450 kilometres east of Srinagar is a popular tourist destination

The tourist haven has been completely devastated by these flash floods. Rescue efforts were being hampered by gushing water and debris.

Many tourists to the area are caught in the heavy slush after the cloudburst. The affected area is a high-altitude desert about 3,500 metres above sea level, and it normally experiences very low rainfall.

To provide targeted assistance to the civil administration in the relief and rescue efforts, the Defence Ministry is coordinating with the Home Ministry and the Jammu and Kashmir government. The Army, Air Force and DRDO establishments in Leh were actively involved in the process.

A tri-service crisis management group meeting has also been scheduled later today to work out the detailed assistance package to the victims.

District magistrate and other officials doing flood damage assessment aboard IAF helicopters across Ladakh.

The PM has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured. Defence Minister A K Antony is personally monitoring the operations.