Early warning by villagers save 300 soldiers in Kargil

Kargil, Aug 12 (UNI) A few minutes of gap separated about 300 soldiers from death as their Headquarter at Baroo was flooded with water and mud caused a by cloud-burst, destroying more than a dozen concrete bunkers and other structures.

GOC 14 Crops, Lt General J K Mohantay said the structures would be reconstructed within a week and the brigade headquarter will resume functioning from the same place.

''Yesterday's loss is being assessed,'' he said, adding there was no loss of life in the flood which has caused devastation in the area.

Soldiers said they were in their barracks of Baroo start shouting '' flood-flood''.

They said before they could realise what had happened, water and mud was flowing from top of the mountain in high speed towards the HQ, housing the office of Brigadier Rajiv Bala.

Soldiers said everyone ran for safety.

A UNI correspondent who visited the area this morning saw fire- brigade personnel and soldiers clearing mud which had entered in almost all the rooms.

It has destroyed General Branch office, Library, education office and main office of Brigadier Bala However, the Brigadier was not in office at the time of flood.

This correspondent could see about 12 bunkers totally damaged while 25 others were still full of mud and water.

Troops working in the HQ were shifted to nearby areas and Brigadier Bala was also functioning from other place.

Lt General Mohantay, accompanied by GOC 8 mountain division Major General V S Tonk, told reporters that, a major tragedy was averted.

UNI BAS ASM AK RN1458