Flood Disaster in Ladakh 2010

In the night from the 5th to the 6th of august 2010 170 people lost their lifes when the flood came. 700 people have been severely injured, more than 1000 houses got totally damaged, lots of cattle and crops lost. Most of the infrastructure got destroyed. The contact to Ladakh was interrupted for many days. Schools, the radio station and the hospital had to be cloosed due to severe damages and mud.

When the flood- and mud disaster in Ladakh occured, our project-manager "Bridge to Tibet" Nike-Ann Schroeder happened to be there for study reasons. She was able to help rapidly. A first appeal brought enough money together for help efficiently together with the organization Tara Trust (India) and Tara for Children e.V. (Germany). www.taraforchildren.com

We were able to provide the following help together with Tara Trust:

  • Common kitchen for around 300 homeless people in tibetan refugee camp Choglamsar

  • Winter food storage ( running till march 2011)

  • Basic sets (blankets, cloth, kitchen)

  • First Aid for the 80 families in the Camp

  • Medical care (Medical camps and ongoing treatments) with Dr. Makkar from Great Britain, who worked without paying

  • First Aid for 11 indian shoecleaner and begger families (Blankets, food)

  • Sponsoring of the poorest families in the camp

  • Rebuidling project ended october 2010

  • Sakya Anigompa - rebuilding of a roof of one Building

  • financielle support for Tsampa, wintercloth and wintershoes of the old peoples home in Choglamsar

1. Charity Appeal August 2010

Nike-Ann Schroeder
Tibetologist, currently staying in Tibetan refugee camp Choglamsar for fieldwork/dissertation. I have been travelling, working and researching in Tibet, Nepal and India since 2000,and organize individual support for Tibetan school children, old people, monks and nuns in Tibet, Nepal and India since 2004.
Best wishes and many greetings from Ladakh to all people who are interested and help to organize support :)

07. August 2010:
The family I stay with and I am fine, but here many people died, the number of bodies found is about 140 by now, but still more than 500 people are missing and more than 1000 houses were destroyed during one night Thursday to Friday. The areas which got hit at worst were in Leh the governmental hospital, radio station and busstand, and the villages of Phyang and Saboo, but also Choglamsar, where I live right now. We were lucky since the huge landslide and mud disaster didn"t hit our part of the refugee camp, but we had to
flee in the middle of the night since a big river appeared right next our house. We had some minutes to collect 7 children, grandma and grandpa and us 4 people of the generation inbetween, free the 4 dogs and collect some things, and leave the house, all and everything in one jeep. Hundreds of people were not so lucky and got buried under tons of mud. The rain finally stopped and our house and the area around didn"t get destroyed, but since nobody knew and knows how things will develop, we moved to another place which hopefully is more safe. Situation is very bad, many dead people, people missing and many injured; bridges, roads, mobile and telephone, hospitals, radio station and much more got destroyed or severely damaged. On Sunday morning I managed to leave Choglamsar and go to Leh. Yesterday I helped to carry the mud out of the hospital and everybody including me goes here and there and tries to find out whether the dear ones are well and alive.


11. August 2010:
Today there was a candle procession in Leh, many people took part and chanted prayers for the people who died during the last days.
The number of dead bodies found increased to 170, still about 500 people are missing. 700 people severely injured, more than 1000 buildings damaged, lots of cattle and crops lost. Many people are still camping on mountains, since still many people fear further floods, cloudbursts and landslides.
Still most of the infrastructure is destroyed, both the highways to Kargil and Manali are interrupted since most of the bridges were washed away and there are still lots of landslides to be cleared. Most of the villages in Ladakh are only to be reached by walking or helicopter. Telephone and BSNL mobile network is still not working, most of the schools and hospitals are closed due to severe damages and mud.

actual situation in Ladakh 13.August 2010:
The recent natural disaster in Ladakh hit not only Leh, nearby settlements and the Tibetan refugeecamp Choglamsar, but all villages along the Indus, villages in Nubra valley as well as in the Markha valley and in the Changthang area. This list is not complete. The actual numbers as given by the Ladakh Buddhist Association - which is one of the major groups organizing volunteers and collecting / giving donations to support Ladakhi flood victims are as follows: 200 people died, 800 are still missing, 500 people are severely injured. The houses of more than 1000 families are destroyed / severly damaged; 15 schools, governmental hospital in Leh, the radio station and telephone exchange as well
as 5 major bridges and 20 village bridges have been destroyed / completely damaged. Also people lost cattle and crops, and all kinds of properties.
This situation is the result of the worst natural disaster Ladakhi people can remember. Still there are lots of rain clouds, many looks go up to the sky to check the weather condition. The number of people camping high up in the mountains surrounding Leh to be safe in case of further floods is still immense.
Cleaning and repairing goes on everywhere. Through the efforts of lots of people working together the hospital could be cleaned compeletely within a few days. The army and different road building organisations work hard on clearing the roads of mud and stones, and repair roads as well as bridges. The linking highway to Kargil was re-opened today, the highway to Manali was re-opened between Manali and Sarchu, while there are still 20 km of road to be reconstructed between Leh and Sarchu. A lot of help is needed for both, providing the nasic needs for flood victims immidiately as well as reconstruct houses, and the whole infrastructure which got destroyed.
In Choglamsar, which belongs to the areas which got hit worst, Camp No. 12 has the most losses and damages. Of 63 families, the houses of 34 families got destroyed. Since the whole area is contaminated by the destruction through the flashflood and huge mud landslide, all families had to leave the area.
Now, all these families live in tents in camp No. 2 in Choglamsar. Some basic
infrastructure is provided by the Indian army and government such as the tents and some basic medical aid. Apart from that, these people who lost everything got no institutional help so far.
Please help me to collect some money now to be able to provide some basic help where needed most urgently!
Starting from today, there was no money for providing food for the people who lost their homes in Choglamsar. In the name of Tara Trust and Bodhicitta e.V. Germany, I gave money for providing 3 meals for all the 180 people for one week to the groupleader of the camp. Apart from that, at the moment I try to help old people who have no children and support, by buying food and bring it to their homes. During the next days, I will check further possibilities for a useful support of the flood victims. Please try to help, every Euro is useful!


We can provide
food for 1 day (3 meals pf rice and dal) for 180 people for 42 Euro and 50 cent.
a bag of 10 Kg rice for less than 5 Euro,
a bag of 10 Kg of flour for 3 Euro and 40 cent.


If you can give a donation, please do this via the following organization which send your money directly to me:


Bodhicitta e.V.
c/o K. + G. Bluecher
Palmerstr. 9a,
20535 Hamburg- Germany
Tel. 040-88165636
www.bodhicitta-ev.com


Donation in Germany:

Bodhicitta e.V.
Kto. 1225124716
Blz 20050550
Sparkasse Hamburg
"Nike-Ladakh"


other Countries:
Bodhicitta e.V.
IBAN: DE 68 2005 0550 1225124716
BIC/SWIFT-Code: HASPDEHH XXX
„Nike-Ladakh“