179 killed,over 400 injured in Leh cloudburst: Govt

“Since the tragedy occurred during the night there has been substantial loss of precious human lives. Damage to property and disruption of communication and services have also been widely reported. A full assessment is underway,” he informed the House.

“As per the Government of J&K’s latest assessment,179 people including six foreign nationals have lost their lives and approximately 400 people have been injured and treated in various Army and other medical facilities,” he added.

Chidambaram said there had been extensive damage to public utilities like the BSNL exchange,civil hospital,airport,drinking water supply works,national highways connecting Leh-Manali,Leh-Kargil and also to private properties.

On receiving information about the disaster,the government had swung into action and responded to requirements projected by the Jammu and Kashmir government for undertaking rescue and relief operations in the affected

areas.

He said over 6,000 personnel of the Army,Air Force,Border Roads Organisation,NDRF and ITBP were deployed along with rescue equipment to assist the civil administration in relief operations. He added 800 tents,6,900 blankets,620 tarpaulins,1,000 mattresses,food packets and bottled water was sent to victims.

Apart from doctors available with the Army,paramilitary forces,and the state government,a medical team consisting of eight doctors and four nurses along with 10 quintals of emergent surgical and medical consumables too were deployed in the affected area.

“Additional medical supplies are being dispatched. Medical equipments have been sent to the affected area,” he added.

The civil hospital was made functional and two water purification machines of 4,000 litres per hour capacity delivered at Leh,apart from sending an additional water purification plant.

Sufficient quantity of chlorine and water purification tablets were dispatched and 30 per cent water supply had resumed.