“There is no mention of any such natural calamity in the Ladakhi archival history of 1200 years,” said Tsering Wangdus, Head Master of the Government High School, Basgo.
Wangdus just about echoed all of Ladakh’s sentiments when he talked about the massive destruction caused on August 5 and 6 due to a cloudburst followed by flash floods in the Leh district.
In all 55 villages suffered damages. Apart from loss of life and property, there has been loss of connectivity — power and telecom — too.
Army and paramilitary have rendered valuable help by
erecting temporary iron bridges (up to 10 tonne capacity) at several places. But Leh-Manali Highway, the lifeline for all goods, is still in doldrums.
Karma Sonam (43), a member of Young Drukpa
Association, a socio-religious charitable trust, said, “About 20 kms of the Highway was damaged. Of this, around 6-7 kms of road was washed out near Miru village. Vehicles need to take a detour of 250-odd kms.”
Despite problems galore, when HT visited the affected areas, people were seen getting back to reconstructing their life.