M A I N   N E W S

At Leh, fresh worry: The gathering chill
Ajay Banerjee writes from Ladakh

Urgently required 20,000 heavy quilts 4,000 tonne rice 3,000 tonne wheat flour 200 tonne sugar 1,500 tents 1,500 solar lanterns 500 dry toilets

They have faced one of the worst onslaughts of nature’s fury. Now, something scarier awaits them.

Shocked and shelter-less, residents of the straggling Leh district —that stands ravaged by the August 6 ghastly cloudburst — have no clue how would they tide over the harsh winter that will soon descend on this cold desert.

With relief work in disarray and civil administration yet to get its act together, a superhuman effort would be needed to get victims foodgrains, bedrolls, warm clothes, quilts, sleeping bags and alternative sources of power to battle the chill.

Estimates drawn up by local administration are frightening and everything would depend on opening of the two national highways -Manali and Srinagar — connecting Leh to rest of the country.

The other option of moving such huge quantity of material through the IAF transport planes would be very costly and time-consuming.

Sources in the state government revealed that a whopping 4,000 tonne of rice, 3,000 tonne of wheat flour (atta) and 200 tonne of sugar will be needed to meet the food requirement of the homeless. It’s an uphill task as one truck would take at least three days to travel from Srinagar to Leh carrying at the most 9 tonne of food material.

Estimates for pulses, edibile oils, salt and condiments (masalas) are still being drawn up. The assessment for kerosene oil needed for operating the heating Bukhharis, is still being finalised.

Leh, as per projected estimates, would need 20,000 heavy quilts/ blankets or sleeping bags for the homeless, as temperatures will dip down to minus 30 degrees in December.

The administration intends to set up small community kitchens in hamlets and provide them with rations. Apart from the tents and mattresses already supplied by the national disaster response force, Leh has projected the need for another 1,500 tents and an additional 4,500 mattresses. Immediately, 500 dry toilets are needed, while 1,500 solar lanterns will be needed in the coming days. The lanterns are crucial as several villages will be without power for more than nine months from now (the supply lines and poles have been washed away). The government had assured that it would restore 70 per cent power supply to Leh but so far it is running far behind the target.

The administration is also toying with the idea of asking the Army to provide some of its pre-fabricated heated structures to house people as reconstruction of damaged homes is going to be strenuous task.

The relief committee of the district has so far distributed 10,000 kg of rice, 7,500 kg of atta, 2,000 kg of sugar, 2,000 blankets, 1,000 mattresses, 300 tents and 400 tarpaulins.

Since all communication equipment at Leh have been damaged, the BSNL has provided Sat phones in the district. IAF planes are now readying to airlift vital bridging equipment from Pathankot.