Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Aug 7: Four persons including two ladies were feared dead in the flash flood at Achenathang village.
A destructive flood occurred on Khaltse-Batalik Road, which is being maintained by 81 RCC (GREF)/762 BRTF/BRO (P) Vijayak. The flood occurred in the Achena Lungba River (Stream) and cause of flood is yet to be ascertained as it was sunny day with no chances of cloudburst. Locals believed that rain water might have accumulated in the form of lake in the up Hill Mountain which had burst causing huge flood.
Twenty GREF personnel and Casual Paid Labour (CPL) deployed on the location for permanent works had miraculous escape during the flood. However, two persons were reportedly washed away in the flood. They were identified as Mason Ganesh Datt, resident of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand and casual labourer Dorjay Namgial, resident of Skurbuchan Khaltse, Leh.
The flood was so massive that the 70-feet Bailey Bridge on the location was completely washed away including its abutments thereby blocking the water flow in the Indus river. In the flood, 550 meters of Khaltse-Batalik Road was damaged and approximately 2 km upstream was under water. Immediately, OIC, Khaltse reached the spot followed by OC 81 RCC (GREF) to take stock of the situation.
Another two female labourers working under different contractors at a different location were also missing after the flood. The missing female labourers are Nirmal Viku (30) wife of Maan Bahadur, resident of Nepal and Maya (27) wife of Manoj Kumar of Kullu. In both the cases missing report has been lodged at Police Station Khaltsi.
The restoration work was immediately started by 81 RCC (GREF) and the situation is being continuously monitored at various levels. Hill Council Chairman, Dr Sonam Dawa Lonpo, Deputy Commissioner Prasanna Ramaswamy and SSP Uday Bhaskar Billa rushed to the site to access the ground situation.
The flood caused huge damages in the area and number of heads works and irrigation Khuls were washed away. The Deputy Commissioner has sent request for chopper services for aerial survey to ascertain the cause of flood. Drinking water supply also has been affected and the DC had instructed PHE Khaltsi to supply drinking water to the resident.
SSP Uday Bhaskar Billa told that police and Army teams are searching for the missing persons but till now no dead body has been traced out.
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