A day before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to pay a visit to Leh devastated by the recent flash floods and mudslides following a cloudburst, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and minister of state for defence M.M. Pallam Raju were in the town on Monday to share the grief of the victims’ families and also oversee the rescue and relief operations underway.
Separately, Chief of Army Staff General V.K. Malik flew in Ladakh’s main town to take stock of the situation as the Army is in the forefront of these operations and has played a crucial role in providing succour to the survivors including restoring the severed communications in the hilly region besides two vital road links — Leh-Srinagar and Leh-Manali roads. As many as 6,000 soldiers are engaged in the relief and rescue operations.
Mr Gandhi, after reaching Leh in a special aircraft, made a aerial survey of the affected areas and also visited worst-affected Choglamsar where numerous houses were buried under the slush following the cloudburst on August 5 night. Accompanied by Mr Raju, he also visited Leh’s military hospital to interact with patients who had sustained injuries during the natural catastrophe which killed nearly 190 people and injured hundreds. Over 400 people are still missing. They also visited the headquarters of Leh-based 14 Army Corps where they were given a detailed briefing on the activities of the Corps since the calamity struck Leh and its neighbourhood.
Mr Gandhi also stopped at the local ITBP camp where he praised the work done by security forces and later visited a relief camp run by the Border Roads Organisation. He assured the survivors possible assistance will be extended to them towards their rehabilitation and said that “Tomorrow Prime Minister is coming. You tell him and I will also tell him. We will try for whatever is possible.” Gen. Singh also visited a relief camp set up near Choglamsar. Interacting with the survivors, he assured them of all help and cooperation by the Army. At the Military Hospital he interacted with the patients, both civilian and Armymen who had sustained injuries during the calamity or during rescue operations. He was later given a detailed briefing of the relief operations by Lt. Gen. S.K. Singh, General Officer Commanding, 14 Corps.