Chandigarh, August 22
As life limps back to normal with people coming to terms with their grave losses in the cloudburst-devastated Leh, a high level team of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has planned a visit to the area later this month to study the reasons for the unprecedented mudslides that caused more damage than the flash floods as such.

The visit, scheduled for August 30, follows a preliminary study already carried out by the GSI to assess the causes of the mudslide that led to the disastrous flow of debris in the Ladakh region. The four-member team of geologists, including one from Chandigarh, will further undertake investigations to find ways to lessen damage to life, property and ecology in event of such natural disasters in the future.

“The aim of this study is to plan mitigation measures in the area so that damage to life and property can be lessened if such tragedies occur in future,” said Sumant Gupta, Senior Deputy Director-General, GSI, Northern Region, Lucknow. Gupta said more damage was caused by mudslides in Leh.

“The muddy mix of water and soil flowed devastatingly and breached whatever came in the way causing damage to life and property,” said Gupta.

The four-member team will comprise M Raju, Director (Landslide), Monitoring Division, Kolkata; Raghuvir Singh, Director GSI, J&K along with one GSI official and Pradeep Kumar from Chandigarh.