Two more bodies recovered, avalanche toll rises to seven : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Two more bodies recovered, avalanche toll rises to seven

JAMMU: The toll in the avalanche at Khardung La, world’s highest motorable road in Ladakh, on Saturday mounted to seven after rescue teams retrieved two more bodies of labourers from the area.

Two more bodies recovered, avalanche toll rises to seven

A rescue operation underway at Khardung La. File photo



Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 19

The toll in the avalanche at Khardung La, world’s highest motorable road in Ladakh, on Saturday mounted to seven after rescue teams retrieved two more bodies of  labourers from the area.

On Friday, five labourers were killed in the area after a massive snow avalanche hit two trucks carrying 10 persons, engaged by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), who had gone to load snow to be used for a trial landing of a helicopter.

The ‘runout zone’ of the avalanche was approximately 1,100 m down the steep hill side. Khardung La, at a height of 17,852 feet from the sea level, is strategically important and is on the road to Siachen glacier.

Around 250 persons, including 150 jawans, SDRF, civil defence personnel and police, carried out the rescue operation on the second consecutive day on Saturday morning and retrieved bodies of two labourers, identified as Nawang Tundup and Lobzang Nurbu, both residents of Zanskar. The operation, which was being carried out in the bone-chilling cold of -20°C, was stopped in the evening following bad weather. It will be resumed on Sunday to trace the remaining three missing persons.

“Hostile weather is creating problem in the operation. We had to stop the operation at 5.30 pm because the temperature was around -20°C in the area. With the passage of a day, the accumulated snow became hard and it was difficult to dig in hard ice slabs,” Sonam Dorjey, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DAR), said.

Meanwhile, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, which governs the district politically, has directed the police and the district administration to conduct a thorough probe into the incident to fix the responsibility.

“I have asked the SSP, Leh, to register an FIR and conduct an inquiry into the incident. We will not spare anyone. The lapses on the part of the HAL and police officials, deployed en route Khardung La, will be looked into. We will ascertain as how police officials allowed labourers for Khardung La in early morning hours even as the night movement on the road is prohibited,” Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, chairman, Leh Council, told The Tribune.

He appreciated the support extended by the Army in carrying out the rescue operation, as the Army pressed its ‘Avalanche Panthers Teams’ from the Siachen base camp and North Pullu besides helicopters to launch the operation.

The deceased, whose bodies were retrieved on Friday, were identified as Norbo Tsering Thinles Spalzang, Tsewang Tashi, Tsewang Rigzin and Lobzang Loolang Chombul, all residents of Zanskar.

Probe ordered

  • The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, which governs the district politically, has directed the police and the district administration to conduct a thorough probe into the incident to fix responsibility.
  • Around 250 persons, including 150 jawans, SDRF, civil defence personnel and police, carried out the rescue operation on the second consecutive day on Saturday morning. They retrieved bodies of two labourers, identified as Nawang Tundup and Lobzang Nurbu, both residents of Zanskar.

Top News

Arvind Kejriwal to be produced before Delhi court today as 6-day ED custody ends

Excise policy case: Delhi court extends ED custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till April 1

In his submissions, Kejriwal said, ‘I am named by 4 witnesse...

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

The bench refuses to comment on merits of the issue, saying ...

‘Unwarranted, unacceptable’: India on US remarks on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest

‘Unwarranted, unacceptable’: India on US remarks on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest

MEA spokesperson says India is proud of its independent and ...

Bullying Congress culture, no wonder being rejected: PM Modi, backs senior lawyers who flagged attempts to undermine public trust in judiciary

Bullying Congress culture, no wonder being rejected: PM Modi

Backs senior lawyers who flagged attempts to undermine publi...

Gujarat court sentences former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt to 20 years in jail in 1996 drug case

Gujarat court sentences former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt to 20 years in jail in 1996 drug case

Bhatt, who was sacked from the force in 2015, is already beh...


Cities

View All