Incessant rains have flooded the rivers, nullahs and rivulets in entire Ladakh region. The flood waters have inundated the low lying areas and a situation akin to the flash floods of 2010 is fast developing. As if the devastation caused to various parts of Ladakh during the disastrous floods of 2010 was not enough, the nature has once again unleashed its unsparing fury against this vast region. The weatherman has predicted more rains which has spread scare and horror among the people especially of the low lying areas.
Reports coming from Ladakh say that life stands disrupted; people are abandoning their homes and moving to higher places to escape the wrath of floods. Bridges, culverts and other infrastructure have caved in and roads are washed away. People have got stranded in water logged areas and telecommunication services have been disrupted. Ladakh has lost connectivity with the world outside. Some vehicles have been washed away by flood waters and irrigation and water works have virtually vanished. Most of the schools have been closed because the approach roads have been washed away by the floods. It was during the night of August 3-4, that flood waters inundated the thickly populated area of Tashi Gatsal in Choglamsar, which was the worst affected area during 2010 natural calamity, bore the maximum brunt.
The flood waters that visited various parts of Ladakh in 2010 should have been an eye opener for the authorities and particularly the Disaster Management Authority of the State. While recapitulating the story of that calamity and the way the authorities handled it, we notice that the Government did not take any concrete step to meet such disasters in future. It is a pity that the damages to life, property, livestock and crops by the flash floods of 2010 did not prompt the authorities to take preventive measures against recurrence of such disasters in future. No doubt police and disaster management personnel and some administrative officer have been seen trying to provide rescue and relief assistance to the stranded people, yet the magnitude of devastation is much bigger than what one may imagine. Fortunately, there is satisfactory rapport between the civil authorities and the defence organization in Ladakh and during the 2010 floods also the army had rendered yeoman’s help to the civilians.
However, the point we like to emphasize is that during five years in the past, there have been two floods in Ladakh area. It is now established that some areas are flood prone and need to be attended by authorities. Therefore the State Government as well as the LHDC should jointly formulate anti-flood policy for the region and that should be implemented in time bound manner. For example, the people living in low lying areas should be encouraged to move to safer places and those deciding to shift should be provided with rehabilitation support. Some of the more threatening nullahs and streams should be diverted away from the habitation and the engineering team should prepare a blue print of such diversions. The weather forecasting system in Ladakh should be strengthened and modernized so that advance warning is issued whenever it is felt that heavy rains are likely to be there in near future. The most important step to be taken is to strengthen and expand the Disaster Management mechanism in Ladakh. Adequate funds, equipment and manpower have to be provided. An advance project of alternative supply line via air dropping shall have to be formulated and approved to remain in place and made operative whenever need for using it arises.
These are the plans for future, and of course, these should be under consideration at the government level. But immediately, the relief and rehabilitation in Ladakh should be undertaken on massive scale. Damaged culverts, bridges, infrastructure etc. have to be restored. Civil supplies must not remain suspended even for a moment and those who have suffered the loss of property, house, livestock and crops should be provided relief and compensation immediately. Necessary medicines and medical support to the stranded and marooned people need to be provided. The Centre must also come to the rescue of the flood sufferers in Ladakh.
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