Tibetan Buddhist monk Thupten Dhargyes offers prayers alongside the path of flash floods in the village of Chuglamsar, one of the worst-hit areas during the August 6 floods, on the outskirts of Leh on August 16, 2010. Some 189 people were reported dead and more than 400 are still missing following overnight flash floods which hit the remote Himalayan town on 6 August 2010. AFPBy Staff Writers
Leh, India (AFP) Aug 16, 2010

Winters come harsh and early in India’s Himalayan region of Ladakh, where the waning summer spells more hardship for thousands left homeless by devastating flash floods. In Ladakh’s main city, Leh, around 800 families lost everything in the torrent of mud and water that invaded their homes 10 days ago and killed nearly 190 people. Though part of mainly Muslim Kashmir, the high-altitude region of Ladakh is overwhelmingly Buddhist. A 20-year Muslim insurgency against Indian rule has had only an indirect impact on the area, an adventure playground popular with foreign trekkers. The desire to help those who have been left destitute has in any case crossed religious lines. … The Leh Muslim association has set up a stand in the city centre where volunteers were working in shifts Sunday making little gift packs of sweets sent by well-wishers in New Delhi for the estimated 2,000 children affected by the floods. Near to the mosque, a Buddhist temple had also put out a collection box with a sign reading: “Please Help Us.” “With the money we collected we’ve managed to hand out rice, cooking oil and clothing,” said P.T. Kunzang, secretary general of the Ladakh Buddhist Association. … “The main priority is sorting out the displaced people because time is limited,” said Kunzang. “Winter is coming and in one month it will already be cold. This is the government’s responsibility.” …

Time short for Ladakh flood victims as winter looms