Over 500 still missing in Leh cloudburst

Srinagar: Over 500 people, including a Spanish tourist, were missing on Sunday, Aug 8, two days after a cloudburst that caused flash floods in Leh town, leading to widespread destruction and claiming 132 lives.

Bodies of two out of 27 jawans, who went missing in the Shyok valley near Siachen have been found on Sunday, Aug 8, massive relief and rescue work continues in Leh.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir zone) Farooq Ahmad said on Sunday, Aug 8, "63 bodies had been identified so far and that rescue teams were fanning out to six villages near Leh that had not yet been reached during relief operations."

Over 6,000 army men and troopers of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are involved in the massive relief and rescue operation and are assisting the local administration.

The injured are being treated in local hospitals.

Airforce planes and several army helicopters have been pressed into service. Six aircrafts of the Airforce have landed at the cleaned-up Leh Airport with 29 tons of relief material.

The cloudburst, flash floods and mudslides that hit Leh town on Friday, Aug 6, washed away government offices, paramilitary camps and residential homes.

OneIndia News