The Situation

The cloudburst resulted in devastating mud slides leaving in its wake more than 200 people dead and over 400 missing. It is estimated that more than 10,000 people have been affected in Choglumsar, Pathar Sahib vllages and the surrounding areas of Leh Town Ship in Leh. Houses have been reduced to rubble and it appears that a giant bulldozer had just made its way through the area. The dead and missing also include many foreign tourists. The worst affected is Chugalamser village and Leh town with more than 500 deaths as per local sources.

This devastating flood not only caused human loss but also agricultural land, live stocks, and moveable as well as immovable property. The Civil hospital and Leh Airport were inundated, and both started operating after 24 hours. The foreign tourists were instrumental is making the Civil Hospital in Leh operational, the only public health facility by clearing the debris.

Results of Field Assessment done by the HelpAge Team

Leh Town:- Life in Leh is totally paralyzed. There has been a heavy loss of property as well as human lives. The major communication system (BSNL Office) which connects with the world is under debris. The main Bus Stand and taxi Stand has been damaged by flood. All India radio Station, Govt. School have been damaged by the flood. Those who have lost their house are living in the tents and some are staying with their relatives. There is no electricity, no communication system and no transportation system.

Leh is cut down from both the sides i.e. from Himachal Pradesh through Sarchu and from Sri Nagar which connects Leh with other parts of the country. There have been efforts to restore connectivity and information has now come in that the Srinagar � Kargil route is now operational, though there are landslides at some places.

Current Major Problems

• The current major problem is shelter, since winter would arrive in the next 30 to 40 days and those who have lost their houses have to settle down or arrange a shelter for themselves. Tents and temporary structures cannot provide the safety from the freezing cold and ice of -15 to -20 degree C, with a minimum of seven feet of snow.
• Health system is another problem since in Leh town there is only one Govt. Hospital and one army hospital which is not sufficient to give quality treatments to the flood affected people.

HelpAge Intervention

The challenge for the HelpAge team is immense, as emergency work at Leh needs special preparations given the "Cold-Desert" climatic conditions. Food, medicine and shelter are the immediate identified needs. HelpAge India teams are already in place providing medical relief through its Mobile Medical Unit. Over 700 victims have already received treatment but the need is ever increasing. The fragile economy and people of Leh need and deserve to be supported, as eye balls have moved to larger disasters. Five employees of KPMG India are volunteering through HelpAge India for the relief work starting August 28.

	At the Himank Relief Camp, the biggest of relief camps, the HelpAge Mobile Medical Unit is providing medical relief for women, children and the elderly (every Monday and Friday). Tents and food items, potable water and temporary toilets are available. Needs: Permanent shelter, Food, winter clothes for winter season.
People come down by foot to access medical relief from the MMU every Friday (near) Saboo village of 360 households, that has recorded among others Total destruction of agricultural land, there have been 12 deaths in the village from 5 families. Relief received from local administration Need: � Livelihood options to be explored � Road to the village to be reconstructed
The MMU visits Shey Village every Tuesday. 30 families from the village jostle for space in the tents provided by local administration. The camp though is bereft of any toilet facilities. Water is being provided by the local administration by water tankers. Need: � Permanent Shelter & Livelihood options is the primary need. � Since the agricultural lands as well as houses are totally damaged, dry ration for winter is another important need. � Toilets facility in the camp
	The MMU visits the SOS Tibetan refugee Camp every Thursday, where 23 Tibetan families live in tents provided by the local administration and Army. They survive on dry and cooked food, clothes and blankets etc. provided by agencies. Drinking water provided by administration. Most of the families had total loss of house hold items, clothes and other necessary items. HelpAge is also coordinating with the traditional Tibetan doctor (Aamchi) in the SOS village. Need: Permanent Shelter, Livelihoods and Dry ration for winter still remain key concerns.