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Flash Floods Kill 130 in Indian Kashmir

   Rescue  crews  are  battling  deep  mud  and  additional  rain  in the
   mountainous  Ladakh  region  in  an  attempt  to find dozens of people
   believed still missing

   VOA News 07 August 2010
   Men  help  an  elderly  man  on  a  makeshift bridge cross a stream of
   gushing floodwater in Kargil, India, 7 Aug 2010

Photo: AP

   Men  help  an  elderly  man  on  a  makeshift bridge cross a stream of
   gushing floodwater in Kargil, India, 7 Aug 2010

   Authorities  in  Indian-controlled  Kashmir  are  stepping  up  rescue
   operations  after  flash floods killed at least 130 people and injured
   hundreds of others.
   Rescue  crews  are  battling  deep  mud  and  additional  rain  in the
   mountainous  Ladakh  region  in  an  attempt  to find dozens of people
   believed still missing.
   An  early  Friday  downpour  triggered  flooding  as  residents of the
   Himalayan  region  slept.   Buildings,  homes,  power  and  telephone
   services  collapsed  as  floodwaters  carrying mud and debris ran down
   mountain slopes.
   Reports  say the airport in the main city of Leh re-opened Saturday to
   transport  relief  supplies  Saturday, but many roads are washed out.Â
   With  the  civilian  hospital damaged, doctors and patients have moved
   operations to a nearby army hospital.
   At  least  2,000  displaced  people  have  been  housed  in government
   shelters.
   Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday expressed grief for the
   loss  of  life  and pledged federal aid to the Jammu and Kashmir state
   government.
   Ladakh  is  a  high-altitude desert about 3,500 meters above sea level
   and  normally  experiences  very  low precipitation.  It is a popular
   destination for Western tourists and backpackers.
   The  Indian  army  has  a large presence in the largely-Buddhist area,
   which shares borders with China.
   Kashmir's  deluge  happened  as neighboring Pakistan suffered from its
   worst flooding in decades.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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