LEH CUT OFF FROM REST OF THE WORLD

It'll Take Days To Restore Phone & Air Links, Roads Even Longer

Chandigarh: With road and air connectivity disrupted and phone lines down, Leh has been cut off from rest of the world since Thursday night. The severe disruption in communication system has affected the rescue work undertaken by the army as well as other paramilitary personnel.
    According to sources, it will take days to restore the telephone system and air connectivity, while the road network would take even more time.
    The road approaches to Leh from Srinagar through Zozilla and from Rohtang passes have been cut off as small bridges have been washed away.
    The closure of air and road network will also affect the supply of essential commodities in Leh town that witnessed heavy damage due to cloud burst on Thursday night. Fearing shortage of essential commodities, people have already started storing milk and vegetables.
    The Manali-Leh road is closed at two points, one at Rohtang pass due to landslides at Rahni nullah, and another at Darcha as the bridge has been washed away.
    The Leh airport runway and the ATC tower have been badly affected as thick mud has accumulated in these areas. Air operations from Leh have been shelved and efforts were under way to clear the airbase to ensure supply of essential commodities from Chandigarh and Delhi.
    The Centre is rushing a 140-member team of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) along with doctors and paramedical staff in an IL-76 IAF aircraft to Leh for relief and rescue operations. Massive rescue operations involving the state police, paramilitary personnel and the army in Leh town are already under way. A senior home ministry official said, "Six thousand army and ITBP personnel fully acclimatised to the atmosphere in Leh are there and they are engaged in rescue operations."
    The district hospital and two buildings housing offices of the Union home ministry were also affected. All commercial flights from Delhi to Leh were cancelled. The IAF has opened a disaster management cell at Chandigarh, consisting of three senior officers including medical officers.
Missing Link
Road approaches to Leh from Srinagar through Zozilla and from Rohtang passes cut off as small bridges are washed away
Manali-Leh road closed at two points
Thick mud covering Leh airport runway and ATC tower
Closure of air and road network to affect supply of essential commodities in Leh town

WHEN NATURE WREAKED HAVOC:
(Clockwise from top) Relief workers rescue people after a house complex is destroyed in flash floods in Leh on Friday; A truck, caught in the natural disaster; Swirling waters indicate the trail of destruction caused by the sudden overnight downpour and flash floods