Disaster struck Leh on the night of 5th August 2010. A series of cloudbursts caused flash floods which in turn triggered mudslides in several areas causing a disaster of such magnitude that has never been witnessed in the history of Ladakh. Hundreds were left homeless and more than 300 died with whole families being wiped out and immigrant labourers and their families still unaccounted for. Even worse was the damage caused to huge tracts of agricultural land which was either washed off or filled with boulders or thick layers of mud brought down by the floods. The Ladakhis being small self sufficient farmers, the destruction of agricultural land is a tremendous loss.
In this time of distress, the people of Ladakh were extremely fortunate to get immediate aid, especially with the Indian Army reaching out to rehabilitate people by providing them with temporary shelters and ration. It was heartening to see the locals coming together as a collective whole and standing by each other, putting up a brave face through the hardship.
Rigzin Tamchoos and family who lost their home, living in a relief Tent
Several NGOs came to Leh and along with the locals helped in every way they could - be it clearing debris, digging out bodies, comforting families or providing food and basic necessities to the affected.
We in our own way are trying to pitch in too. Rimo Expeditions has undertaken a long term project of adopting the villages of Skiu, Kaya, Markha and SumdoChen as we have many locals from these affected villages working for and with us for over 10 yrs. The immediate assistance given to these villages was sending in food, warm Clothing, working tools and cement so that they could rapidly build water canals to salvage their remaining crops.
The worst is yet to come with the long winter months just around the corner. It is almost impossible for the homeless to survive through the severe winter (with temperatures dipping as low as -35C) in the tent shelters given to them. Their homes can only be rebuilt beginning April next year.
Destroyed Campsites and parachute tents
Chewang Motup after discussions with the headmen of the villages has come up with a novel scheme where in the villagers themselves would take in those without homes and give them shelter, food and fuel over the harsh winter . The host families would in turn be given a monthly token fee for taking care of the homeless hence benefitting both the parties involved. Juniper Trust, UK and Himalayan Club, Mumbai have been very kind in collecting funds for this long term project of rehabilitating these victims who have lost their homes.
Rimo Expeditions was also involved in searching and retrieving of bodies from several affected areas where backpackers were washed away in the flood after help was sought by the embassies of France, Spain and Italy.
We would like to thank all our clients and agents who after assurances continued with their trips with a little rerouting just 2 weeks after the floods. All the tourists who landed in Leh even after the floods went a long way in boosting the spirits of the locals and brought out the clear message that we have to move on. HH the Dalai Lama who visited Leh in mid Sept gave the same message that even though we mourn those who died and lost so much, we have to pick up our lives and move on.
