JAMMU:
About 400 stranded tourists have been evacuated by the Army from flood-hit areas of Ladakh as several villages of the region were cut off from the main land.
“Army troops swiftly launched a large scale rescue and relief operations in all flood-affected areas to save precious lives,” Defence Spokesman at Army’s Northern Command, Col S D Goswami said.
“Heavy rains, flash floods since last month have affected large parts of Ladakh region. Inundated roads, submerged villages, damaged bridges have caused havoc during prime tourist season,” he said.
The Ladakh region witnessed unprecedented heavy rains coupled with mud and rock slides resulting in sudden increase in water levels in almost all water bodies, he said.
Large stretches of roads have been washed away snapping lines of communications and a number of people were stranded, he said.
“Vital bridges near Achinathang, Biamah and Khalsar areas were also washed away which resulted in a number of villages being cut off,” he said.
“In addition, 250 tourists at Upshi and 150 tourists at Khalsar were stranded,” he said.
The Army units swiftly came to the rescue of the people and started restoring lines of communication on priority.
Col Goswami said that at Biamah village a crucial bridge and about 25 to 30 houses got washed away. (AGENCIES)
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