Jammu, Aug 4:  Cold desert Leh is all set to recount the trails of massive destruction caused due to flash-floods triggered by cloudburst that hit the district on the intervening night of August 5 and 6 last year.
 The victims, who lost their homes to flash floods, are still struggling to get rehabilitated in view of “poor” implementation of Prime Minister Rehabilitation package.
 “The administration has failed to implement PM’s rehabilitation programme in letter and spirit. Victims are still facing countless problems due to poor implementation of the programme. Reconstruction of damaged houses has yet not been completed, subjecting affected people to great hardships,” Dorjay, a resident of Solar Colony told Greater Kashmir on phone.
 Close to 200 people, including women and children lost their lives while thousands were rendered homeless in worst cloudburst in the history of Leh district last year.
 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced Rs 125 crore relief package for the victims and had declared that all houses destroyed by the natural calamity would be reconstructed within the next two-and-a-half months.
 He had earlier announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured from the PM’s National Relief Fund.
 Official sources said that 783 families have received the first installment of Rs one lakh each while some families have yet not received the compensation because names of many local residents were mis-spelt on the relief case list.
 Victims also rued that the compensation granted by the government for reconstruction of houses was not sufficient.
 “What can you arrange for yourself in one lakh rupees? We were not compensated for shops as we lost all sources of income. It was promised by the administration that they would get our houses constructed but local people had to do it their own,” lamented Dolma.
 Official sources said that no compensation was paid to victims for the shops which were washed away by flash floods. “The district administration has projected a proposal for suitable compensation for those who have lost their business establishments in flash floods,” maintained sources.
 Meanwhile, Leh town will observe the first anniversary of cloudburst as ‘black day’ and special prayers will be held in Leh and Jammu to pay homage to departed souls.
 “Both Muslim as well as Buddhist communities in Leh district have decided to observe the first anniversary as black day. All shops shall remain closed and there will be no business activity in Leh tomorrow. Special prayers will be held to pay tributes to departed souls,” Tsering Norphel, a local resident said.
 Similarly, All J&K Ladakh Students Association will hold a candle light march on Jammu University campus tomorrow evening to remember and pay homage to cloudburst victims.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 4 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 4 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 5 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST