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.
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,” said Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, chairman, Leh Council.
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.
