ITBP donates Rs. 1.75 cr for Leh victims

New Delhi, Aug.17 (ANI): Close on the heels of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's visit to Leh on Tuesday, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police today came forward to extend a monetary help of rupees 1.75 crore to flash flood affected people of Ladakh.

With such a gesture, the ITBP today became the first security force in India to have contributed funds for the victims in Leh.

The ITBP jawans and officers have contributed from their salaries for the cause. The donations have been deposited in proportion to individuals' salaries, said Director General, ITBP, R.K.Bhatia in the national capital today.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Dr. Singh today visited flood-ravaged Leh in Jammu and Kashmir and announced Rs.125-crore as a relief package for the victims.

He also promised to visit the people again before the onset of winter to assess the situation.

The prime minister, who arrived here on a day-long visit, said that all houses destroyed in the Aug 6 devastation will be reconstructed within the next two-and-a-half months.

In Leh, the ITBP has arranged for drinking water to the victims in its relief camps and residents of Choglumsar and Sabu villages.

Despite the fact that ITBP buildings are also damaged and its jawans were also injured, they have provided their own accommodation for the affected homeless villagers.

Leh has turned the highest Disaster ground. Carrying Search and Rescue work at altitude of more than 11500ft in the cold dessert and difficult climatic conditions of Leh is very difficult and dangerous.

The Search and Rescue work involves digging mud, debris, removing heavy parts of collapsed buildings, furniture, broken glasses and metallic parts etc.

ITBP has established free food stalls and more than 4000 victims have got quality food and water from these stalls.

Kumbha Hall, one of its big auditoriums, has been converted into Disaster wards.

Over 200 injured were treated in ITBP hospitals and medical camps.

On Aug.6, around midnight, a cloud burst occurred in catchment area of Sabu nala and at about 0100 Hrs the fast flowing muddy water, debris and slush hit Sabu and Choglumsar village, ITBP campus and nearby downhill areas.

ITBP launched an extensive search and rescue work at the same time. All the battalions of ITBP under command of Sector DIG(LEH) of ITBP pressed their Integrated Searchand Rescue team in the relief work. By Pankaj Chaudhary(ANI)