LADAKH HIT BY A SERIES OF CLOUDBURSTS

A series of cloudbursts occurring between 0030 and 0100 on 6th August triggered torrential rain, mudslides and flash floods. Leh town and its adjoining villages were badly affected and Choglamsar, close to the Indus River, is the worst affected area. Todate, at least 115 people were killed and over 370 injured, and many more are missing. Several buildings were washed away. The BSNL exchange in Leh has been damaged; the Srinagar-Leh road is unusable and the Leh airport has suspended all operations. In short, the area is virtually cut off from the rest of the world.