M A I N   N E W S

Rs 125 cr for Ladakh resurrection
PM says nation will pitch in to bring the flood-ravaged region back on its feet
Aditi Tandon writes from Leh

When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flew into flood-ravaged Leh this morning, the sun was unusually sharp but the hearts (of locals) were bitterly cold. However, by the time he flew out, after offering a rehabilitation package of Rs 125 crore to the cloudburst victims, the season had changed, thanks to the warmth extended.

“I have come here to share your grief and tell you that we will together face this colossal tragedy. Money won’t stand in the way of your happiness. You will have another chance of resurrection,” the PM assured a sullen crowd at Zanak Maney Choglamsar village, which saw maximum casualties (120 out of 201) in the August 6 flash floods.

Choglamsar was the PM’s first halt today before he went to meet the residents of Army relief camp nearby. AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi had paid visit to these places yesterday. The young MP made the promise and the PM firmed it up by clearing Rs 125 crore to rebuild Leh. This money will come from the PM Relief Fund. Of the total, about 10 crore would go into reconstruction of infrastructure including schools, hospitals and roads, while Rs 7 crore would be used to fix the water supply.

Since major sources of drinking water in the city have been contaminated (due to bodies entering the channels), the PM gave a nod to a lift water supply from the Indus. At the high-level review meeting (attended by J&K Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and others, the PM saw a presentation on relief operations.

The PM promised to send a Central team to assess the extent of damage to the farmland and suggest solutions. More than 70 per cent standing crops face the risk of damage due to breakdown of irrigation channels.

Needed: 8,500 workers to rebuild Leh

Around 8,500 skilled workers would be required to rebuild Leh’s lost settlements alone. The administration has projected a loss of 1,250 houses, and each house requires two masons and four labourers for quick reconstruction. By that standard, 2,500 masons and 6,000 labourers would be needed, with the PM today saying the Centre would transport whatever labour is required and local youth should also pitch in for the reconstruction work.

Rancho to visit his school today

Shey (Leh): Rancho’s back in Ladakh, and this time with a message. “Everyone should come forward to help Ladakh in this hour of crisis,” says Aamir Khan, who arrived here on Tuesday. “Tragedies keep happening. Life does not stop. Ladakh is beautiful. Tourists should come here,” says Aamir. On Wednesday, the actor would head to his 3 Idiots school in Shey to give whatever he can to help it stand back on its feet.

In Leh, Rancho says all will be well
Tribune News Service

Shey (Leh), August 17
Rancho’s back in Ladakh, and this time with a message. “Everyone should come forward to help Ladakh in this hour of crisis,” says Aamir Khan, who has made a nondescript guesthouse in the Ladakh’s flood-hit Sabu village his makeshift abode.

The actor arrived here this morning. While an entire media entourage was parked outside Druk Padma Karpo Institute (White Lotus School), waiting for Aamir to arrive and pour relief on the now-famous “3 Idiots” school, the actor chose to quietly move to this Ladakh sarai, which was brimming with childish energy as students descended here to meet the actor.

“Tragedies keep happening. Life does not stop. Ladakh is beautiful. Tourists should come here,” says Aamir. Tomorrow, the actor is heading to his school in Shey to give whatever he can to help it stand back on its feet. The floods have devastated the beautiful spaces of the school. It needs books and teaching material and everything else. Principal Prasad Eledath had earlier said that he would first restart the elementary classes (VI to VIII) in the first phase of restoration and then come back to the lower grades.

He was today with Aamir to work out a rebuilding plan for the school, which stands against the backdrop of the Himalayan Range.

Aamir for his part said he was here to meet children and to entertain them. As a parting note, he hummed few lines of his famous “3 Idiots” song, invoking the power of persistence. “All is well and what is not will be,” he crooned.