Leh toll may touch 200

Aug 08, 2010 |

Correspondent

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Srinagar, Aug. 7: The Leh cloudburst toll rose to 132 as more bodies were found lying beneath the debris of flattened homes and other buildings on Saturday.

The authorities fear the figure could cross 200 as the rescuers have not been able to trace any of those still missing after the natural catastrophe struck the hilly town, situated at an altitude of 11,562 feet (3,524 m), during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.

Also, there is no word about hundreds of residents of hamlets dotting the hills in the Leh neighbourhood whereas Choglumsur village, which bore the brunt of the flash floods following the cloudburst, has been completely wiped out. Rescue workers were still looking for survivors in the mud and debris, reports said.

The Army, which has a large presence in the area for its proximity with Tibet and Pakistan, is also reported to have suffered casualties and material loss, the details of which are being collected.

A spokesperson for the Leh-based 14 Corps said three JCOs and 30 other personnel of the 15th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment are missing and a search for them is on.

Official sources here said six additional commercial flights will be operated from Leh on Sunday to evacuate the injured and also tourists stranded in Leh.

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